Beijing’s new $63 bln mega-airport begins international flights
%%description%% Beijing's new $63 billion Daxing airport began its first scheduled international flights on Sunday
Beijing's new $63billion Daxing airport began its first scheduled international flights onSunday as it ramped up operations to help relieve pressure on the city'sexisting Capital airport.
Shaped like a phoenix– though to some observers it is more reminiscent of a starfish – the airportwas designed by famed Iraqi-born architect Zaha Hadid, and formally opened inlate September ahead of the Oct. 1 celebrations of the 70th anniversary of thePeople's Republic of China.
It boasts four runwaysand is expected to handle up to 72 million passengers a year by 2025,eventually reaching 100 million.
China SouthernAirlines and China Eastern Airlines will be the main domestic carriers atDaxing, though Air China will provide a small number of flights too.