WORLD ROUTES: Beijing set to take Largest Passenger Airport Crown

Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) has seen rapid growth over the past decade as China has become a focal point for development in the global aviation business. Just ten years ago the gateway was not even among the top 30 airports in the world by passenger traffic and after making its first appearance in Airports Council International’s ‘Top 30’ ranking in 2004 in the number 20 position it has since rocketed up the table in the annual rankings, entering the top 10 in 2006 and reaching the number two position in 2010.

BCIA is now closing in on the number one position, which has been held by Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport since the late 1990s, and it could inherit the largest airport mantle within the next five years if current rates of growth continue and by which time another major hub airport for the Chinese capital could have been constructed.

Our analysis below shows the amazing growth at BCIA with passenger numbers up 237.4 per cent since 2003, flights up 129.2 per cent and seat capacity up 137.2 per cent. Based on current loaded schedules for 2013, annual departures will grow 2.6 per cent this year to over 282,000 and annual capacity will increases 2.1 per cent to 53.5 million departing seats. This is a remarkable story that was made possible by the construction of the massive 986,000 square metre Terminal 3 structure, one of the largest buildings in the world.

SCHEDULED PASSENGER DEMAND AND CAPACITY AT BEIJING CAPITAL INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Year

Passengers

% Change

Annual Flights

% Change

Seat Capacity

% Change

2012

81,929,359

4.1 %

274,868

4.9 %

52,459,315

6.9 %

2011

78,675,058

6.4 %

262,106

3.3 %

49,080,193

3.6 %

2010

73,948,113

13.1 %

253,677

7.3 %

47,394,181

7.7 %

2009

65,372,012

16.9 %

236,409

13.2 %

44,003,288

11.9 %

2008

55,937,289

4.4 %

208,903

7.5 %

39,338,351

8.7 %

2007

53,583,664

10.1 %

194,287

5.6 %

36,182,356

8.1 %

2006

48,654,685

18.7 %

184,040

12.1 %

33,472,318

13.5 %

2005

41,004,008

17.5 %

164,126

11.8 %

29,498,113

10.1 %

2004

34,883,190

43.6 %

146,751

22.4 %

26,783,746

21.1 %

2003

24,283,818

-

119,923

-

22,117,058

-


“Our focus right now is for growth in North America, Africa and southeast Asia, Gao Lijia, executive vice president, Beijing Capital International Airport told The HUB at the recent World Routes forum in Las Vegas. You can watch our exclusive video interview from the event, below.

Beijing Capital International Airport - Gao Lijia, Executive Vice President.

Richard Maslen

Richard Maslen has travelled across the globe to report on developments in the aviation sector as airlines and airports have continued to evolve and…