The Beijing Capital Airport started to use its expanded terminal two Monday, allowing nearly 1,000 more passengers waiting for the plane at the same time.

The airport invested nearly two billion yuan (US$250 million) in construction since 2004. The newly expanded space will be operated by China's national carrier Air China, with eight more gates and nearly 100 flights added.

The airport became China's first harbor to receive 40 million passengers at the end of last year, ranking among the top 20 international airports. And it will probably receive 50 million passengers by 2007.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2006)