Welcome to the Future: Beijing’s Star-Shaped Sky Hub
Beijing is rolling out a multi‑billion‑dollar airport that looks almost like a gigantic, twinkling starfish – and it’s just in time to celebrate the Communist Party’s 70th anniversary.
Finishing Line
Construction wrapped up on Sunday, and the grand opening is set for September 30, just a day before the Republic of China’s founding on October 1. The ceremony will coincide with President Xi’s massive military parade, turning the airport’s unveiling into a true showcase of the “Chinese dream.”
Where It’s At
Only 46 km south of Tiananmen Square, this gleaming marvel will hit full swing by 2025. It will feature four runways and could handle a staggering 72 million passengers a year.
Getting Bigger
By 2040, the plan is to add eight runways—including one dedicated to military traffic—and accommodate up to 100 million travelers annually, making it the biggest single‑terminal airport in the world. For context, Atlanta’s airports combine to handle slightly more, but they’re spread across two terminals.
Current Crunch
Beijing’s very own Daxing International Airport (a global second‑largest) already swallows over 100 million passengers each year, so the new project sits as the second‑best solution to China’s growing travel appetite.
China’s Aviation Boom
With incomes climbing and an insatiable wanderlust, China is destined to overtake the U.S. as the world’s top aviation market by the mid‑2020s, according to the International Air Transport Association. By 2037, the nation could see 1.6 billion flights per year—a full billion more than in 2017.
Population Power
BM: Beijing’s incredible 21 million residents will need to ferry in 170 million passengers in 2025 across its twin airports.
Space Odyssey
Sprawling over 700 000 m²—imagine a hundred football pitches set side‑by‑side—this terminal stands as one of the world’s biggest. Designed by the late Zaha Hadid, in partnership with Aerports de Paris, it’s a study in flowing curves and light that pours down from the roof into every corner.
Getting There
Below the terminal, a train station and metro line will shuttle travelers to the heart of the city in roughly 20 minutes.
Money Matters
The whole deal cost about 120 billion yuan (roughly S$23.6 billion). Even when you add in the rail and road links, it tops out around 400 billion yuan.
Airline Play
- SkyTeam’s partners—Delta Air France, KLM, Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines—will switch operations over to the new gate.
- Air China, the third‑largest carrier in China, is predicted to keep the bulk of its flights from Beijing Capital International Airport.
So there you have it: Beijing’s dazzling new starfish airport—blending forward‑thinking design, grand ambition, and a dash of patriotic pride.
