CHINA. The world’s largest airport terminal, Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) T3, opened for business this morning. It’s a landmark in Chinese aviation history and a vital step in the country’s preparations for the Beijing Olympic Games, which are expected to attract 5 million visitors in August.
Shandong Airlines flight SC1151 from Jinan in eastern China landed at T3 at 08.39am, while British Airways was the first international carrier to depart from the new terminal, shortly before midday local time.
The US$2.7 billion terminal is the largest covered structure ever built, according to its architect Sir Norman Foster. The building runs for 3.25 kilometres (2.0 miles) and covers 98 hectares (245 acres) of floor space, the equivalent of about 170 soccer pitches.
“To get an idea of the scale, imagine (all five) Heathrow terminals under one roof and then add an extra 17% of floor space,” Foster told the Chinese press this week. “It has taken Heathrow 50 years to grow to its present scale. In Beijing, the process should be completed in less than five. Here is society changing by the power of 10.”
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Strong commercial focus: T3 boasts an impressive line-up of international brand names – pictured here are some of the upmarket stores in T3a – the GABICO & ACT-run travel retail (duty paid) outlets |
T3 consists of three concourses: C, D and E. Concourse C is for domestic and international check-in, domestic departures, and domestic and international baggage claim. Concourse D is temporarily dedicated for charter flights during the Olympic and the Paralympic Games. Concourse E is for international departures and arrivals.
The commercial areas house an impressive mix of international and local brand names. The boutiques include Cartier, Omega, Zegna, Dunhill, Swarovski, Bally, MCM and Aigner, while there is also a major cosmetics store that includes Lancôme, Estée Lauder, Biotherm, L’Occitane, Shiseido and other major brands.
BCIA commercial management said: “The stores are professional and beautiful. They symbolise the advanced ideology from the BCIA. All the sales advisers have a good image and know-how. [There are] not only international brands but local specialty and arts and crafts shops as well, to satisfy the needs of all walks of life and different nationalities.”
The new terminal will enable the capital airport to handle 76 million passengers a year, against 53 million passengers in 2007. From today, the airlines moving to T3 are Shandong Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Qantas Airways, Qatar Airways, British Airways and El Al Israel Airlines.
On 26 March, a second stage of transition will be complete. The carriers that will use T3 from then include Air China, Shanghai Airlines, Scandinavian Airlines, Austrian Airlines, Deutsche Lufthansa, Asiana Airlines, Air Canada, United Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Finnair, Cathay Pacific Airways, Japan Airlines, Dragonair, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Air Macau, S7 Airlines and Egyptair.
Sunrise Duty Free operates the core duty free concessions across Beijing’s three terminals. And Global & Beijing International Co (GABICO) has an exclusive long-term supply and retail agreement with Beijing Capital Airport Commercial Company (ACT) for the (duty paid) travel retail business in the new terminal. Besides supplying the airport company, Gabico is also in charge of store concepts and strategy and all related business negotiations.
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