A model of one of the passenger terminals
China lifts the lid on Foster’s new airport:
It is about twice the size, half the cost and planned and built in almost a third of the time. When Beijing’s new airport terminal opens in February, comparisons with Heathrow’s Terminal 5 will be inevitable and not entirely flattering to London.
The Chinese capital’s new gateway to the skies was given its first international airing today after a three-and-a-half-year sprint to construct the world’s biggest airport complex for next year’s Olympics.
With 245 acres (99 hectares) of floor space, Terminal 3 of Capital Airport is bigger than all five Heathrow terminals combined. Once it comes into operation, Beijing expects to strengthen its position as a transport hub. With 66 million passengers forecast next year, it will jump from the ninth to third busiest airport.
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