The world’s largest airport stands almost empty

 

      Beijing Daxing International Airport, opened in 2019, was designed with the ambitious goal of becoming the world’s busiest, welcoming over 100 million passengers a year by 2040. However, this colossal terminal, designed by world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid, is unusually empty.

      This airport is an architectural giant with few passengers. The main goal of the airport is to relieve the heavy traffic of the Chinese capital. Its scale is truly impressive, making it the largest airport terminal in the world built as a single building.

      Key parameters of the facility include: Total area: 26,790 hectares; Boarding gates: 82; Runways: Five (four commercial and one military). Despite these figures, the reality today is different. Some of the shops don't seem to be open at all, and the traffic is not particularly busy.

      What is striking is the extreme level of security, top-notch security. The environment is impeccably secured, which is essential for aviation.

      The security here in Daxing is, to say the least, exceptional. There are guards on every corner, even at the taxi stands, and the checks at the terminal exits are only for access to the airport. It is a highly secured and very secure environment, which is great for aviation.

      The main reason for the low passenger flow is that most travelers still prefer the older and closer Beijing Capital Airport. However, to make it easier to access Daxing, an express train line has been built from Caoqiao Station, which covers the distance in just 19 minutes.

      Spread over 700,000 sq m, the equivalent of 25 football fields, the Daxing International Airport terminal, also known as the “New Beijing Airport”, impresses with its unique architecture. Located about 46 km south of the center of Beijing, the facility is shaped like a six-pointed “starfish”, hence its popular nickname. Travelers can enjoy its starfish shape from the plane. The airport’s design is truly unique: six radial shapes are formed around a central area in the style of traditional Chinese architecture. Passengers move seamlessly from one area to another, and can reach each of the gates in an average of eight minutes. Daxing International Airport offers passengers many innovations, including a radio frequency system that allows them to track their luggage in real time directly from their mobile phones. The largest airport in the world is not only functional, but also “green”. The entire building is equipped with a photovoltaic system, as well as a rainwater collection and drainage system.

      A central area and six wings house everything you need, with the sixth wing even housing offices and a hotel. The unique interior also includes a huge Chinese fish garden, preserving local culture amidst the ultra-modern surroundings.

     The project was implemented over five years at a cost of 80 billion yuan (about 11.4 billion US dollars). Although it has not yet reached its full capacity, the airport has already won prestigious awards – for the best hygiene measures in the region (2020) and the “Voice of the Customer” award from Airports Council International (2021).

      While aviation hubs such as Dubai (DXB) and Atlanta (ATL) continue to top the charts for the busiest airports, Beijing Daxing remains an architectural marvel with enormous potential that has yet to prove its place in global aviation.

Please rate my work and vote for my blog on: 

Follow ZigZag Library