Beijing Travel Essentials: Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3 Flight Information
British architect, Norman Foster, has undoubtedly come up with something special in his design of the new Terminal 3 building at Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA).
Foster has linked together elements of traditional and modern design by using striking, elegant red columns, a nine dragon screen and a muted gold roof combined with masses of glass and steel.
From the air the terminal is reported to resemble a dragon as it stretches some 3.25 km in length.
The airport building is another to add to Beijing's growing collection of head-turning architectural designs that make people linger, think and comment.
The use of traditional Chinese elements from China's imperial palaces, temples and gardens cleverly ensures Beijing and China's history is not forgotten as well as providing travelers with an experience they will find in no other airport around the world.
It is planned that the new Beijing terminal will raise the airport's capacity from 35 million to 82 million passengers per year. The building is more than double the size of the two existing terminals, so it is not hard to imagine how much pressure the new Terminal 3 will take off the airport facilities.
Beijing Capital Airport Navigation
As with the opening of any new airport travelers would be well advised to allow extra time to find their way around when using the new Terminal 3 building.
Airlines using Terminal 3 beginning 29th February, 2008
Gate 2
British Airways
El Al Israel Airlines
Qantas Airways
Gate 6
Qatar Airways
Gate 12
Shandong Airlines
Sichuan Airlines
Airlines using Terminal 3 beginning 26th March, 2008
Gate 2
Air Macau
Japan Airlines
S7 Airlines
Gate 4
Austrian Airlines
Cathay Pacific Airways
Dragonair
Emirates
Finnair
United Airlines
Gate 6
Air Canada
Air China (International Flights)
All Nippon Airways
Asiana Airlines
Egypt Air
Lufthansa
Scandinavian Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Thai Airways
Turkish Airlines
Gate 8
Air China (International flights)
Gate 10
Air China (Domestic flights)
Gate 12
All Beijing Shanghai (Hongqiao Airport) flights Air China (Domestic flights) Shanghai Airlines
Terminal 1 (From March 26th, 2008)
Domestic flights China Southern
Xiamen Airlines
Terminal 2 (From March 26th, 2008)
China Eastern
China Southern (International flights)
Hainan Airlines
Skyteam members
Using Beijing's Terminal 3
Check in desks for domestic flights close 45 minutes before take-off time
Check in desks for international flights close 1 hour before take-off time
Customs for departing passengers
It will not be mandatory to complete customs declarations.
If international passengers need to declare goods they should go to the Customs Declaration Desk in front of check in areas D and E before checking their baggage to their flights.
International passengers clear check-in
Once checked in international passengers must go to Immigration and Security checks. Be sure to board an Automatic People Mover (small train) linking the check in area with the international boarding area. Once off the APM go through quarantine, immigration, security and customs checks.
In the wrong terminal?
Free shuttle buses travel between the three terminals every 7 minutes.
Driving to Terminal 3
Take exit 6 off the Airport Expressway
Exit 6 is called Airport Southern Line
An inter-terminal road will also take traffic from Terminals 1 and 2 to the new Terminal 3.
Picking up passengers from Terminal 3
There are three exits from the Baggage Claim Hall
Gate B International arrivals
Gates A and C Domestic arrivals
Panels above the gates display flight information
Airport Buses from Bejing to Terminal 3
Catch the airport bus from Beijing Railway Station, Xidan, Gongzhufen, Fangzhuang, Zhongguancun and Wangjing.
Beijing Capital International Airport Accommodation
There are many hotels surrounding Beijing Capital International Airport ranging from luxury to cut-price properties to suit all budgets. Hotels near the airport provide a free shuttle service to and from Beijing Capital International Airport and the hotel.
Hotels near Beijing Capital Airport
Hilton Beijing Capital Airport
Holiday Inn Beijing Airport Zone
CITIC Hotel Beijing Airport
Cordis Beijing Capital Airport
Crowne Plaza Beijing International Airport
Ibis Style Beijing Capital Airport
Hotels in Beijing - Booking.com
Hotels in Beijing - Agoda