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China Focus: Beijing's Daxing airport marks one year of operation

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Staff members take part in a flag-raising ceremony held by the Civil Aviation Administration of China to mark the first anniversary of the Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2020. The Beijing Daxing International Airport celebrated its first anniversary on Friday. The total passenger throughput at the newly-built airport exceeded the 10 million mark on Tuesday after it began operation last September. [Photo/Xinhua]

The Beijing Daxing International Airport marked one year of operation on Friday with a celebration ceremony.

High standards and innovation have helped the airport maintain smooth operation over the past year despite the impact of COVID-19, according to the airport.

This week, the airport's total passenger throughput exceeded the 10 million mark. It currently operates 187 domestic air routes, connecting 129 airports across the country. By Monday, it had seen 84,000 takeoffs and landings, with a cargo and mail throughput of about 39,000 tonnes.

The Daxing airport has seen flights increasing, with airlines transferring operations from the Beijing Capital International Airport.

China Southern Airlines has transferred 80 percent of its flights in Beijing to the Daxing airport. It is estimated the company will operate more than 200 planes at Daxing airport by 2025, and that it will have welcomed a total of 28.8 million passengers by then.

A flag-raising ceremony is held by the Civil Aviation Administration of China to mark the first anniversary of the Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2020. The Beijing Daxing International Airport celebrated its first anniversary on Friday. The total passenger throughput at the newly-built airport exceeded the 10 million mark on Tuesday after it began operation last September. [Photo/Xinhua]

'Safe, green, smart and humanity-centered

The Daxing airport is a major project that has drawn worldwide attention, said Du Xiaoming, deputy general manager of the airport's planning and development department.

"Under strategic guidance, we are building the airport into one that is safe, green, smart, and humanity-centered," said Du.

Safety has always been a basic requirement for the airport. Millimeter-wave doors can cover areas beyond the reach of metal detectors. Authorities have also introduced a supervision system for runways, and radar can detect even a small stone in an aircraft's path. A light-guidance system allows pilots to direct planes in very low visibility conditions.

"We have taken a variety of measures to guarantee passengers' information safety," said Li Tao, with the airport's information management department. "For example, after storing your ID information, the system will turn it into a code unrecognizable to the public. We can also supervise and stop cyber threats and attacks."

Authorities have implemented the strictest standards to prevent noise pollution at the airport, and all waste is treated so that it poses no threat to the environment.

"We also decided to make the Daxing airport a 'sponge airport,' where the main buildings can store rainwater and all polluted water can be recycled," said Du.

Daxing is a smart airport, boasting roughly 62,000 information points and more than 4,000 internet-enabled devices. Facial recognition technology allows passengers to check in, pass through security, board planes, claim tax refunds, and shop, just by scanning their faces. A small chip in each luggage tag helps passengers to track their luggage easily, said Hao Ling, the airport's deputy general manager.

There are more than 300 shops at the airport, featuring domestic and international brands. Passengers can even stop for manicures or sing in karaoke booths, making the experience "more fun" than shopping malls, according to the airport authorities.

A staff member helps a passenger with the procedures at the Beijing Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2020. The Beijing Daxing International Airport celebrated its first anniversary on Friday. The total passenger throughput at the newly-built airport exceeded the 10 million mark on Tuesday after it began operation last September. [Photo/Xinhua]

Regional integration

While the airport aims for high standards, it is also making efforts to speed up coordinated regional integration across Beijing, Tianjin, and neighboring Hebei Province.

The airport has opened a city terminal in Hebei's Gu'an County, allowing residents of Gu'an and the surrounding areas to complete check-in procedures ahead of time and with minimal difficulty.

The Beijing Daxing International Airport Gu'an City Terminal is located just 10 km from Daxing airport's main site and covers an area of nearly 500 square meters, according to Wang Hui, director of operation planning at Daxing's terminal management department.

Having checked in, passengers are transported to their planes at the main Daxing site via airport bus, a journey of just 40 minutes. Buses leave every 20 to 30 minutes and cost 20 yuan (about 3 U.S. dollars) per trip.

"As the first inter-provincial city terminal of Daxing airport, Gu'an City Terminal not only expands Daxing airport's function as a hub but also allows Gu'an, Langfang and other places in Hebei to use Daxing airport's hub advantages to enhance their industrial attraction," said Jiao Yongjie, manager of the public area management department at Daxing airport.

Daxing airport plans to establish multiple city terminals within the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region in the future to facilitate passenger travel.

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