Beijing airport expansion nears completion

The third terminal building and flight area of the Beijing Capital International Airport has been completed with the last stage to be devoted to the installation of equipment and interior decoration. The new terminal has an area of 986,000 sq.m. About 3,000 km. of cables were laid and 445 sets of elevators, a moving staircase and a moving footpath were installed. The expansion is in preparation for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The airport’s third runway is 3,800 meters long and can accommodate the Airbus A380. The expansion project features new airlines facilities, new freight area, special aircraft and business jet area, and all public service facilities. About RMB 27 billion was spent for the entire project. After it is completed, the Beijing airport will accommodate 76 million passengers, 1.8 million tons of cargo and mail, and 600,000 landings and takeoffs every year.