Beijing Daxing International Airport: Chinese capital gets second world-class hub

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The new airport is a big and bold project, using modern design and technology to offer travelers a faster and smoother experience. Our reporter Ning Hong has more.

With four runways completed and three more in the works, the airport is going to be a world-class travel hub.

NING HONG BEIJING DAXING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT "This is the brain of the airport. The air traffic control center has the most advanced automation system in China to manage four runways at the same time."

The automation system and radar technologies should speed up the frequency of landings and take-offs.

YAN XIAODONG, DEPUTY DIRECTOR DAXING AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL CENTER, NORTH CHINA AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT BUREAU "The airport can have over 250 flights take off and land in an hour. And the number could reach 300 under the long-term plan, which includes another two runways."

Air traffic management has been designed to be more efficient under the control of the new terminal approach center that also was completed on Sunday.

XIE YULAN, CHIEF ENGINEER NORTH CHINA AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT BUREAU "We have introduced technologies such as inbound and outbound sorting, which could improve the on-time rate of outbound flights and the management of inbound flights."

The system has 173 air control seats, covering three major airports in North China - two in Beijing, and one in Tianjin. It is going to be the largest air traffic control system in the world.

XIE YULAN, CHIEF ENGINEER NORTH CHINA AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT BUREAU "All the data is collected, processed and shared by the system, which could greatly improve the efficiency."

Another ambitious feature: The largest air hangar in Asia. It can hold two Airbus 380s-the largest civil airliners in service at the same time.

WANG JIANJUN, DIRECTOR DAXING CONSTRUCTION HEADQUARTERS OFFICE, CHINA SOUTHERN AIRLINES "We are building a major base here. Five functional zones and 31 projects have all been completed. We are switching to operation from this day on."

The airport will enter the next phase, including six joint drills that cover all systems, making the final preparation for the first regular flight in September. Ning Hong, CGTN, Beijing.