As names go “Beijing New Airport” is rather underwhelming, but that is the only mediocre thing about China’s new mega-hub.
“Beijing New Airport” is not due to open its gates to passengers until October 2019. However, the Chinese Government has given the world a sneak preview of the new 80 billion yuan ($12.14 billion) hub.
The skeleton of the vast airport, which will span 47km2 (18 square miles), including runways, has gone on show.
World-renowned Zaha Hadid Architects designed the terminal building.
Otherwise known as Beijing Daxing International Airport, will serve an initial 45 million passengers a year. However, the eventual capacity is estimated to be 100 million and four million tons of cargo.
As a result, it will rival the world’s busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International in the US.
Beijing airport part of China’s infrastructure strategy
A high-speed rail link will take passengers to the new airport 67km south of Beijing. It is part of a major construction drive to offset China’s slowing economic growth.
“Lined up together there’s roughly 5 km of gates,” said project spokesman Zhu Wenxin. “It’s a shining example of China’s national production capacity.”
Building the frame of the airport required 52,000t of steel and 56.5 million cubic feet of concrete.
Once completed, it will relieve pressure on the existing Beijing Capital International Airport. Currently, the world’s second-largest airport by passenger volume, it is working at capacity.
Airbus gives Bombardier C-Series boost
In other aviation news, European aerospace company Airbus is to take a 50.01% majority stake in Bombardier’s C-Series jet project.
Additionally, Airbus has the right to buy full control of the C-Series project in 2023.
The deal looks to be a great bit of business for Canadian firm Bombardier. The plane and train maker is embroiled in a trade dispute with Boeing in the US over the C-Series.
Airbus may also assemble some of the jets at its plant in Alabama to supply the US domestic market.
As a result, Fortune reports that the aircraft would not be subject to possible duties of 300%.
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