Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
According to the Airports Council International (ACI), Beijing Capital International Air-
port (or PEK on your ticket) is currently ranked as the second busiest airport in the world. It
sits just behind Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in the United States, which
holds the number one position. In 2011, 77,403,668 people went through Beijing's termin-
als, and this number has been climbing rapidly. Ten years ago it didn't even appear in the
world's top 30 busiest airports. More than 70 airlines use its tarmacs on their way to more
than 200 cities around the world.
The airport lies 32 kilometers (20 miles) northeast of the CBD. Though it's surrounded
by Shunyi district, it's actually classified as being in a separated area of Chaoyang district.
A second airport for Beijing is said to be planned, rumored to be completed by 2017.
Beijing Capital International Airport comprises three terminals—Terminal 1, which was
completed in 1980; Terminal 2, which was completed in 1999; and Terminal 3, which was
completed in 2008 just in time for the Beijing Olympics. Terminal 3 was designed by an
international consortium of architects and is the world's second-largest terminal (second to
Dubai). Its opening gave Beijing's capacity for international travel a major boost, and since
this time Beijing has consistently ranked in the top 10 busiest airports.
Terminal 1 manages domestic flights, while Terminals 2 and 3 handle international
flights and flights to Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. A free shuttle bus runs between the
terminals. For T1 it stops outside Gate 7, for T2 outside Gate 9, and for T3 outside Gate
5. Terminals 1 and 2 are actually located together, but most maps seem to not care about
Terminal 1 and don't mention it. So if you discover you need to depart from T1, head to T2
and then follow the signs.
Air China is China's national carrier, and to be frank, it's pretty horrible. Food, service,
entertainment choices, even timeliness all fall way short of what you might expect from a
national carrier. Its prices are rarely competitive. Few expats (possibly none) would rank
it as their first choice. It is, however, one carrier that may offer you a direct flight if that's
your priority. It has direct flights to Vancouver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York,
