Airport to shine for Olympics

Beijing - Mixing state-of-the-art systems and Chinese characteristics, a revamped Beijing airport set to open for the Olympics looks likely to finally give China an air gateway worthy of its rising status.

With 98 hectares of floor space, it will boast one of the world's largest airport terminals, marking a great leap forward in preparations for next August's Olympics and China's skyrocketing air travel market.

Airport officials pulled back the curtain on the $2.7bn expansion with a media tour that revealed a gleaming facility they say will be one of the world's showcase airports when it fully opens by July.

Designed by renowned British architect Norman Foster, the airport will feature people-mover trains that whisk passengers to distant gates, a high-tech baggage handling system that sorts luggage by radio-frequency tags, and eco-friendly elements.

The roofed area alone would cover about 170 football pitches. There will be 125 new aircraft bays and nearly 300 ticket counters.

Baggage-sorting conveyor belts will wind for 60 kilometres under the terminal's surface and there will be 445 lifts and escalators.

The design borrows from Hong Kong

The revamp will likely delight those familiar with the capital's current airport, a congested and amenity-free facility infamous for its delays.

"Getting in and out of there is like getting a tooth filled by a really slow dentist - you want it to end but you know you're going to suffer for awhile," said Ken McFadden, a beverage industry executive who travels frequently in China.

The design borrows heavily from Hong Kong's much-praised Chek Lap Kok Airport, also designed by Foster, with a swooping roof that, from the inside, seems to stretch to the horizon.

But lest travelers forget which country they are in, massive red Chinese pillars hold up much of the ceiling. From above, the roof is designed to resemble a dragon's back.

Officials say the world-standard facilities will dramatically improve on the current ticketing, immigration and customs processing times.

"Due to fast development, we have found many gaps in quality and operations compared to international levels," said Zhang Zhizhong, head of the airport's holding company.

Meeting skyrocketing travel

"Our aim has been to create a first-class airport in order to secure a safe, smooth, convenient and fast aviation environment."

Chinese officials believe national prestige depends on staging a glittering Games next year and the airport's rebirth seems aimed at creating a knock-out first impression for Olympics visitors.

But it also is aimed at meeting skyrocketing Chinese travel demand that saw the airport handle 48 million passengers last year, far above its capacity of 35 million.

The revamped airport, which will also include a third runway, is designed to handle 60 million passengers a year.

Beijing has pledged an eco-friendly Olympics and the airport's design makes maximum use of natural light through skywindows and soaring glass facades that face south to reduce energy use.

- AFP