Since its opening on September 25, 2019, Beijing Daxing International Airport has made significant strides in its operations, celebrating five years of accomplishments. The airport has been a three-time winner of the “China Civil Airport Service Quality Excellence Award” since 2021, and it has served over 127 million passengers while handling 860,000 tons of cargo.
Emerging quickly as a major global hub, the airport features advanced operations and various impressive achievements. Its terminals provide seamless WiFi connectivity, and passengers can utilise a mobile application to track their luggage in real-time. Airlines operating from the airport collaborate to share flight information, enabling smart climate control in baggage areas by automatically adjusting air conditioning according to passenger presence.
International travellers have recently discovered that they can complete tax refund and border inspection procedures with just an electronic boarding pass. “Now, after finishing the formalities, there is extra time for me to wander around the airport, which is more convenient,” shared one passenger.
Since its inauguration, Beijing Daxing International Airport has implemented a streamlined service that allows passengers on domestic flights to complete check-in, security screening, and boarding using only their identity documents and facial recognition. In July this year, this service was extended to selected international flights.
Wang Guijia, an assistant in the airport’s terminal management department, noted, “While printing a paper boarding pass might seem quick, it still requires passengers to visit check-in counters and wait in line.” She highlighted that this service upgrade saves passengers an average of 15 to 30 minutes.
Airport efficiency directly influences travellers’ experiences, and for airlines, every second of aircraft operation has financial implications.
Zhang Yansuo, the energy and environment business manager of the international technology department at Beijing Daxing International Airport, reported that a pilot programme launched last year aims to enhance coordination with air traffic control authorities, enabling more arriving and departing flights to “fly straight” without detours.
Currently, over 40 flights per day are using these shortcuts, saving an average of 131 minutes in ground taxiing time daily. This initiative is expected to reduce annual fuel consumption by nearly 1,200 tons.
As China gradually expands its visa-free transit policy to include more countries and continues to implement measures to facilitate travel for foreign visitors, Beijing Daxing International Airport has witnessed a significant increase in international passenger traffic. As of 18 September, the airport has recorded 3.27 million entries and exits since the beginning of the year.
Airports serve as gateways to the outside world for a country or region, playing a crucial role in the global industrial system. They demonstrate the convenience of transportation and act as engines of development.
Utilising the international and domestic transportation capabilities of Beijing Daxing International Airport, the Daxing area of the Beijing Daxing International Airport Economic Zone has established an industrial development system primarily focused on the life sciences and healthcare industry. This system is built on high-end services and aviation support, with an emphasis on next-generation information technology and smart equipment.
The area has seen the completion of several major projects, including an international biopharmaceutical park, with a total fixed asset investment of 77.3 billion yuan (approximately $11.02 billion). It houses 199 foreign-invested enterprises.
KRS Group is a precision manufacturing company specialising in the research, production, and sales of Class III dental implants and biomaterials. Having recently established operations in the Comprehensive Bonded Zone of Beijing Daxing International Airport, the company has already received numerous orders.
Su Hanqi, the general manager of the company, remarked, “The airport economic zone not only facilitates the rapid movement of innovative factors such as talent and technology but also offers various preferential policies. Establishing ourselves in the Comprehensive Bonded Zone enables us to benefit from tax exemptions on imported machinery and raw materials, significantly reducing our operational costs.”
He Xiaomeng, head of Langfang Chengrong Technology Co., Ltd., has valuable insights into the reforms at the airport economic zone. Previously, when declaring bonded goods for export using a single customs declaration, multiple trucks were required if the volume of goods was large. However, with the introduction of a “one ticket, multiple trucks” policy in the Comprehensive Bonded Zone, the company now only needs one truck to complete the export of the bonded goods under one ticket, resulting in around a 50 percent reduction in transportation costs.
