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Beijing Capital International Airport

Beijing Capital International Airport (ICAO: ZBAA,IATA: PEK) is the main international airport of Beijing, China. It is the busiest civil airport in China. In 2006, Beijing Capital International Airport was ranked ninth position in the world. It had become the busiest airport in Asia in terms of passenger traffic and total traffic movements by 2009.
 
Beijing Capital International Airport is located 32 km northeast of Beijing’s city center an enclave of Chaoyang District that is surrounded by rural Shunyi District. The airport is owned and operated by the Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited, a state-controlled company. The airport's IATA Airport Code, PEK, is based on the city's former romanized name, Peking.
 
Beijing Capital International Airport is the main hub for Air China, the flag carrier of the People's Republic of China, which flies to around 120 destinations (excluding cargo) from Beijing. Hainan and China Southern Airlines also use the airport as their hub.
 
The Condé Nast Traveler magazine named the Beijing Capital International as the World's Best Airport in 2009, based on its multi-criteria satisfaction survey, including factors such as cleanliness, speed of security/immigration clearance, clarity of signs, luggage handling, etc. It was the first time that Beijing Capital made to the top contenders list.
 
Beijing Capital Airport

Basic Information
English Name:
Beijing Capital International Airport
Chinese Name
北京首都国际机场
Location
Beijing, China
Service From
1958
Type
International Airport
IATA:
PEK
ICAO:
ZBAA
Distance from Beijing City
25 km

Runways:
Name
Lengthm
Lengthinch
Surface
18L/18R
3200
10449
Pitch
36L/36R
3800
12468
Pitch
1/19
3800
12468
concrete
 

History
Capital Airport began to serve since Mar 2nd, 1958. It is the first civil airport in China. At the very beginning, only one small terminal building served travellers. And now, it is still standing there serving for VIPs and applying for the use of charter flights.
 
On the Jan 1st 1980, a new and large terminal with about 60,000 sq meters including parking apron and parking lots began to serve for the airport. This terminal is the No 1 terminal now.
 
During the mid-1990s, this terminal was smaller to meet the traffic condition. And another terminal was planned to be constructed with an area about 33,600 sq meters. This terminal was applied to use on Nov 1st 1999. After the new terminal began to use named as the No 2 terminal. And the No 1 terminal was then closed for renovation after the opening of Terminal 2.Till Sep 20th 2004, the re-constructed No 1 terminal started to serve again.
 
A third runway of BCIA opened on October 29, 2007, to relieve congestion on the other two runways.
 
Another expansion, Terminal 3 (T3) was completed in February 2008, in time for the Beijing Olympics. This colossal expansion includes a third runway and another terminal for Beijing airport, and a rail link to the city-center. At its opening, It was the largest man made structure in the world in terms of area covered, and a major landmark in Beijing representing the growing and developing Chinese city. The expansion was largely funded by a 30 billion yen loan from Japan and 500-million-euro (USD 625 million) loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The loan is the largest ever granted by the EIB in Asia; the agreement was signed during the eighth China-EU Summit held in September 2005.
 
Fresh from hosting the 2008 Olympic Games and completion of its new terminal building, Beijing Capital has overtaken Tokyo Haneda to be the busiest airport in Asia based on scheduled seat capacity.
 

Terminals
Till 2011, there are three terminals in Beijing Capital International Airport: Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3.
 
► Terminal 1
Started to serve on Jan 1st 1980, Terminal 1 is a building covered 60,000 sq meters. Terminal 1 was applied and replaced the original small terminal in 1950s. Till 1999, only Terminal 1 was existed and used in Capital Airport. When the Terminal 2 opened on Nov 1st 1999, Terminal 1 was closed and planned to be re-constructed. And Terminal 1 wan re-open on Sep 20th 2004.
 
Terminal 1 was the operational base for China Southern Airlines' domestic routes and a few other airlines such as Xiamen Airlines and Chongqing Airlines, and was originally planned to handle domestic traffic, excluding those to Hong Kong and Macau.
 
In 2008, Terminal 1 was closed again for renovation. From this time, airlines of China Southern Airline and Xiamen Airline were operated in Terminal 2. And since Jun 27 2008, Terminal 1 began to operate airline of Hainan Airline and gradually became the private terminal for HNA Group, including those of Hainan Airlines, Grand China Air, Deer Air and Tianjin Airlines, while the international flights and the ones between Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and Beijing of the HNA Group remained in Terminal 2.

Airlines List at Terminal 1
Airlines
Airline No.
Services Counter
Phone
Grand China Airlines Domestic
CN
K Check-in Zone
950718
Capital Airlines
JD
K Check-in Zone
95071999
Hainan Airlines Domestic
HU
K Check-in Zone
950718
Tianjin Airlines
GS
K Check-in Zone
950718
Spring Airlines Co., Ltd.
9C
48-K49 Check-in Zone
021-95524
Lucky Air Company Limited
8L
K Check-in Zone
95071950
 
► Terminal 2
Terminal 2 was open on Nov 1st 1999, It is many larger the Terminal 1. During the renovation period of Terminal 1, Terminal 2 played an important role to keep the airport serving smoothly. Domestic and international flights are all can be operated in Terminal 2. Prior to the opening of Terminal 3, all international flights (and the majority of the domestic flights) operated from this terminal. This terminal now houses China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Skyteam, and other domestic and international flights after Air China, Shanghai Airlines, Star Alliance members, Oneworld members moved operations to the new Terminal 3.

Airlines List at Terminal 2
Airlines
Airline No.
Services Counter
Phone
AZERBAIJAN AIRLINES CJSC
J2
D Check-in Zone
(+86-991)-258-14-13
JSC Airline Taimyr
Y7
B Check-in Zone
010-69450539;
13436959840;
007-(8)800-7008007
Yukutia Airlines
R3
D Check-in Zone
+7 499 749 00 21
Asia Airlines
D7
C Check-in Zone
86-20-2281-7666
Cebu Pacific Air
5J
C Check-in Zone
+63-2-70-20-888
Shanghai Airlines
FM
G12-22, H Check-in Zone
0086-10-95530
Delta Air Lines
DL
A Check-in Zone
4001-202-364
China Southern Airlines
CZ
International C01-10;
Domestic F01-22; G07-11,E11-20 Check-in Zone
95539
Chongqing Airlines
OQ
F01-22,G07-11
95539
Hainan Airlines International
HU
B,D Check-in Zone
950718
China Eastern Airlines
MU
International D Check-in Zone;
Domestic G12-22,H Check-in Zone
95530
Xiamen Airlines
MF
G01-G06 Check-in Zone
95557
Korean Airlines
KE
B Check-in Zone
4006-588-888
Airfrance
 
AF
B Check-in Zone
4008-808-808
Russian International Airlines
SU
A Check-in Zone
108 007 330 039
Uzbekistan Airlines
HY
A Check-in Zone
010-85263212
Klm Royal Dutch Airlines
KL
B Check-in Zone
4008-808-222
Air Astana
 
KC
B Check-in Zone
010-64566970
Air Koryo
JS
E Check-in Zone
010-65011557
PIA
PK
A Check-in Zone
010-65051681/82
Garuda Indonesia Airlines
GA
B Check-in Zone
010-58797699
Iran National Airlines
IR
A Check-in Zone
(+9821)46623233
Sri Lanka Airlines
UL
A Check-in Zone
010-64617208
Turkmenistan Airlines
T5
A Check-in Zone
010-85862696-816
Vietnam Airlines
VN
C Check-in Zone

 
010-84541196;
010-64638448
TAAG
DT
A Check-in Zone
010-84580327
Air Algerie
AH
E Check-in Zone
213(0)21653340
Hongkong Airlines
HX
C,D Check-in Zone
950715
Mega Global Air Services (Maldives) Pvt. Ltd.
LV
D Check-in Zone
(+960)3006672
 
► Terminal 3
Construction of Terminal 3 started on March 28, 2004, and was opened in two stages. Trial operations commenced on February 29, 2008, when seven airlines, namely British Airways, El Al Israel Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, Shandong Airlines and Sichuan Airlines moved into the terminal. 20 other airlines moved into the terminal when it became fully operational on March 26, 2008. Currently, it mainly houses Air China, Oneworld, Star Alliance, and other domestic and international flights.
 
It was designed by a consortium of NACO (Netherlands Airport Consultants B.V), UK Architect Foster and Partners and ARUP. Lighting was designed by UK lighting architects Speirs and Major Associates. The budget of the expansion is US$3.5 billion. Far grander in size and scale than the existing terminals, it was the largest airport terminal-building complex built in a single phase with 986,000 square meters in total floor area at its opening. It features a main passenger terminal (Terminal 3C), two satellite concourses (Terminal 3D and Terminal 3E) and five floors above ground and two underground, with the letters "A and B" omitted to avoid confusions with the existing Terminals 1 and 2. Terminal 3C is dedicated for domestic flights, Terminal 3E for international flights, and Terminal 3D, called the "Olympics Hall", was used for charter flights during the Beijing Olympics, and will be used by international flights.
 
Terminal 3 is larger than London Heathrow Airport's 5 terminals combined with another 17% to spare.
 
Terminal 3 of the BCIA is currently the second largest airport passenger terminal building of the world. Its title as the world's largest was surrendered to Dubai International Airport's Terminal 3 (over 1,500,000 m²) on October 14, 2008.
 
Airlines List at Terminal 3
Airlines
Airline No.
Services Counter
Phone
Hawaiian Airlines Inc.
HA
F Check-in Zone
010-85227835
Tibet Airlines Corporation Limited
TV
K Check-in Zone
4008-0891-88
Globus Airlines
GH
C Check-in Zone
010-65529672/73
Air Mauritius Limited
MK
C25-C32
002302077575
ZEST AIRWAYS, INC.
Z2
B Check-in Zone
400-821-3157
LOT Polish Airlines
LO
B Check-in Zone
4008822057
Air China
CA
Premium Check-in Zone A
International Check-in Zone H;
West of Check-in Zone F (Domestic, First and Business Class) ;
Domestic Check-in Zone J, K
95583
Swiss international Airlines Ltd.
LX
D Check-in Zone
4008822057
South African Airways
SA
F Check-in Zone
010-65026789
Da Lian Airlines
CA
HK Check-in Zone
95583
Shandong Airlines
SC
K Check-in Zone
400-60-96777
Sichuan Airlines
3U
K Check-in Zone
4008300999
Austrian Airlines
OS
E Check-in Zone
4008-810-770
Scandinavian Airlines
SK
E Check-in Zone
010-85276100
DEUTSCHE LUFTHANSA Airlines
LH
E Check-in Zone
010-64598866
Asiana Airlines
OZ
D Check-in Zone
400-650-8000
Air Canada
AC
B Check-in Zone
1-888-247-2262
United Airlines
UA
D Check-in Zone
800-810-8282
ANA Airlines
NH
D Check-in Zone
4008-82-8888
Turkish Airlines
TK
D Check-in Zone
+86-010-64651867
Egypt Airlines
MS
C Check-in Zone
010-64591303
010-64571118
Thai Airways International
TG
E Check-in Zone
010-85150088
Singapore Airlines
SQ
E Check-in Zone
010-64532556/57/58
Finnair
AY
F Check-in Zone
010-65127180
Cathay Pacific
CX
C Check-in Zone
400-888-6628
British Airways
BA
C Check-in Zone
010-64590081/82/83
Japan Airlines
JL
C Check-in Zone
4008880808
Dragonair
KA
C Check-in Zone
400-888-6628
Emirates Airlines
EK
D Check-in Zone
010-51088696
Israel Airlines
LY
B Check-in Zone
010-58797358
Qatar Airlines
QR
E Check-in Zone
010-59235100
S7 Airlines
S7
C Check-in Zone
010-65529672/73
Air Macau
NX
F Check-in Zone
010-64530165/66/67
China Airlines
CI
E Check-in Zone
400-888-6998
Etihad Airways
EY
B Check-in Zone
010-85217988
BR Eva Air
BR
F Check-in Zone
400-886-5889
Shenzhen Airlines
ZH
K Check-in Zone
400-88-95080
Mongolia Airlines
OM
D Check-in Zone
010-65079297
010-65061231
Ural Airlines
U6
B Check-in Zone
+86 158-01407214
American Airlines Inc.
AA
B Check-in Zone
4008150800
TRANSAERO AIRLINES
UN
C Check-in Zone
010-85288613
Ethiopian Airlines Share Co.
ET
B Check-in Zone
13911139497
15011555744
Philippine Airlines
PR
C Check-in Zone
010-64558035
Malaysia Airlines
MH
E Check-in Zone
010-65052681
Shanghai Juneyao Airlines Co., Ltd.
HO
J Check-in Zone
95520

► Accesses among Terminals
There is a passage linking the two terminals together; this is accessible at the public level (no passports needed). Travel between Terminals 1 and 2 is via a long corridor with travelators. A fit person can make the route in about 10 minutes.
 

A free shuttle bus runs between Terminal 2 and the new Terminal 3. It departs every ten minutes or so and the journey time is about 10 minutes. Terminal 3 is huge: it alone is bigger than all five of Heathrow (London)'s terminals. Additional time should be allocated when flying from here. Terminal 3 check-in closes 45 minutes before flights depart.
 



Departure Guides in Beijing Capital International Airport

For Domestic Departures

Normal Procedure: Checking in & Getting Boarding Pass→Check-in Luggage→Security Check→Waiting & Boarding

→STEP1: Checking in & Getting Boarding Pass
Please confirm the terminal building with the airport or the airline you fly with in advance. Please check flight information screens for the check-in counter of your flight and other information before you check in. Please use the e-ticket check-in machine if necessary.

→STEP2: Check-in Luggage
Please check in at the corresponding check-in counter with flight ticket and valid ID; check your luggage and obtain boarding pass.

Restrictions on Carry-on Luggage: Total weight of carry-on luggage should be within 5kg. The size of each luggage should be within 20 x 40 x 55cm. (Be aware that some airlines may have their own size or weight restrictions.) If the luggage fits in the hand luggage measuring container on the security checkpoint, it can be carried along with the passenger. Otherwise, it needs to be checked.

→STEP3: Security Check
Please make sure that your boarding pass, flight ticket and passport are ready for security checks. You are required to pass through the security gate, while your carry-on luggage has to go through X-ray checks for flight safety.

→STEP4: Waiting & Boarding
After security check, you can go to the corresponding lounge in accordance with the boarding gate indicated in your boarding pass. For smooth boarding, it is recommended that passengers arrive at their terminal 1.5 hours before departure Check-in service closes 30 minutes before departure.

For International Departures

Normal Procedure: Checking in→Check-in Luggage→Inspection & Quarantine→Frontier Inspection→Security Check→Customs Inspection→Waiting & Boarding

→STEP1: Checking in
Please confirm the terminal building with the airport or the airline you fly with in advance. Please confirm if you carry any article that needs to be declared to the customs before checking in. If so, please fill in China Customs Declaration Form for Exit/Entry Passengers and submit to the customs counter between D&E check-in islands. (Except passengers who are exempted from customs inspection in accordance with relevant regulations, or accompanied minors under the age of 16.)

→STEP2: Inspection & Quarantine
Outgoing passengers suffering from fever, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhea, acute rash, lymphadenopathy, AIDS, venereal disease, mental disorder or open tuberculosis should voluntarily report to the inspection and quarantine officials; Passengers carrying the following items shall report them to the inspection and quarantine officials: biological species, living animals, food made from animals, animal carcasses or specimens, plants and plant products, plant propagating materials, soil and microorganisms, human organism, biological products, blood and blood products.

→STEP3: Frontier Inspection
Foreign passengers are required to show their passports, visas, and exit registration cards. They can only travel out of China within the time limit prescribed in their valid entry visas. The Chinese passengers (including those from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan) are required to show their passports and visas. If you have any certificates issued by relevant departments, allowing you to travel out of China, please show them promptly.

→STEP4: Security Check
Please make sure that your boarding pass, flight ticket and passport are ready for security checks. You are required to pass through the security gate, while your carry-on luggage has to go through X-ray checks for flight safety.

→STEP5: Customs Inspection
Passengers with articles to declare must fill in China Customs Declaration Form for Exit/Entry Passengers and choose "Declaration Channel" (also named "Red Channe") for Customs clearance; those without any article to declare have no need to fill in the declaration form and can choose the "Non-declaration channel" (also named "Green Channel") for Customs clearance.

→STEP6: Waiting & Boarding
After Security Check, you can go to the corresponding waiting lounge in accordance with the boarding gate indicated in your boarding pass.

As the boarding generally starts 30 minutes or more before the takeoff, please pay attention to the broadcasting and flight information screen. Please get the boarding pass ready and show it to the personnel when boarding



Arrival Guides in Beijing Capital International Airport

For Domestic Arrivals

Normal Procedure: Flight Arrivals→Baggage Claim→Leaving the Airport

→STEP1: Flight Arrivals
After entering the terminal building, you can refer to the signs to the Baggage Claim Hall. To make it convenient for passengers to change their clothes, passenger dressing rooms are available in the Baggage Claim Hall.

→STEP2: Baggage Claim
You will enter the Arrival Lobby after Baggage claim, where you can meet your relatives and friends, get information at the Hotel Inquiry Counter and Inquiry Counter, or exchange currency at the bank. Downtown Airport Shuttles or taxis are available outside the Arrival Lobby.

→STEP3: Leaving the Airport
After you get out of the Arrival Lobby with your luggage, you may leave by taxi or Downtown Airport Shuttles.

For International Arrivals

Normal Procedure: Flight Arrivals→Inspection & Quarantine→Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection→Baggage Claim→Customs Inspection→Leaving the airport

→STEP1: Flight Arrivals
After entering the terminal building, you can refer to the signs for the Baggage Claim Hall.

→STEP2: Inspection & Quarantine
Incoming passengers having diseases such as fever, vomit, jaundice, diarrhea, acute rash, lymphadenopathy, AIDS, venereal disease, mental disorder or open tuberculosis should initiatively report to the inspection and quarantine officials; Passengers coming from the endemic areas of yellow fever are required to show the inspection and quarantine officials a valid prevention and vaccination certificate of yellow fever.

→STEP3: Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection
Foreign passengers should complete Entry Registration Cards and submit it together with valid passports and visas to Station of Frontier Exit and Entry Inspection for inspection. The Chinese passengers should possess valid passport.

→STEP4: Baggage Claim
Baggage Claim Hall is located on the second floor, whose entrance is equipped with a baggage carousel screen. Identify the right carousel according to your flight number. Should you have any question concerning the Baggage, please consult the airline.

→STEP5: Customs Inspection
Passengers with articles to declare must fill in China Customs Declaration Form for Exit/Entry Passengers and choose "Declaration Channel" (also named "Red Channel") for Customs clearance; those without any article to declare have no need to fill in the declaration form and can choose the "Non-declaration channel" (also named "Green Channel") for Customs clearance. (Exclusive of passengers who are exempted from Customs inspection and control in accordance with relevant regulations, or those under the age of 16 who are accompanied by adults).

→STEP6: Leaving the airport
You will enter the Arrival Lobby after Baggage claim, where you can meet your relatives and friends, get information at the Hotel Inquiry Counter and Inquiry Counter, or exchange currency at the bank. Downtown Airport Shuttles or taxis are available outside the Arrival Lobby.



Transfer Guides in Beijing Capital International Airport

►For Domestic to Domestic

Normal Procedure: Flight Arrivals→Transfer Procedures→Waiting & Boarding

►For Domestic to International

Normal Procedure: Flight Arrival & Transfer Procedures→Inspection & Quarantine→Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection→Security Check→Customs inspection→Waiting & Boarding

For International to Domestic

Normal Procedure: Flight Arrival & Transfer Procedures→Inspection & Quarantine, Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection→Baggage Claim→Customs Inspection→Security check→Waiting & Boarding

►For International to International

Normal Procedure: Flight Arrival→Transfer Procedures→Border Inspection→Security Check→Custom Inspection→Waiting & Boarding



Related Information:
72-hour Visa Free Policy in Beijing Capital International Airport
►More transportation information:
Beijing Transportation
►More Travel information: Beijing Travel Guide