It is the first international carrier to announce all of its operations to move to Beijing’s second airport
Passengers between London Heathrow and Beijing will soon have the chance to experience the Chinese capital from a new angle. British Airways has confirmed that their flights to Beijing will fly to and from the new Beijing Daxing International airport.
Starting on 27 October, the British flag carrier will switch all of its London Heathrow–Beijing flights to the new airport. It has become the first international carrier to confirm all of its operations to move to the airport.
Currently, British Airways offers its Beijing flights only through London Heathrow. With the switch, the airline also expects to expand its existing route network via codeshare with China Southern Airlines.
As of now, the carrier flies daily to the Chinese capital. In the summer, it uses a Boeing 777-300 aircraft and in the winter a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft on the route.
The passengers will have to travel about 50 km to reach Beijing’s city centre.
Daxing airport is the biggest and most expensive airport ever built
At a cost of US$12 billion for construction, Beijing’s second international airport is the most expensive in the world. It will open its doors on 30 September this year.
The airport expects to become the biggest and busiest by passenger traffic. By 2025, it’s looking to accommodate about 72 million passengers and by 2040 the figure should increase up to 100 million.
With 52,000 sqm available for retail, food and beverage and service, facilities at Beijing Daxing will include over 300 shops and restaurants. For those eligible, it will provide access to a brand-new partner lounge.
Despite the immense costs and the fact it’s aiming to become the biggest airport in the world, it’s designed to keep walking to a minimum. The distance from security to the furthest located gate is 600 metres, or about an 8-minute walk.
“It’s more efficient for the passengers than any other large airport terminal of the same size in the world,” said Guo Yanchi, chief engineer of Beijing Daxing International airport.
“The airport is also the world’s first to be designed with double-deck departure and double-deck arrival platforms.”
