Xinhua reports that the world’s largest airport terminal opened in Beijing Friday ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games, and in its first day of operation the terminal will receive and send 42 flights, said Dong Zhiyi, general manager of the Beijing Capital International Airport.
The first flight took off from the terminal at 9:36 a.m. local time.
More than 76 million passengers a year will be processed in the new terminal, compared to 53 million passengers in 2007. During the Games this year more than five million people are expected to attend.
Three highway roads are under construction to connect the new terminal to the existing traffic system, reports Xinhua, and are planned to open before the Olympics begin.
Also six new airport bus lines were put into operation with 88 new buses and shuffle vehicles have been equipped to carry passengers between the three terminals.
China is also upgrading several standby airports near Beijing for the Games by renovating terminals, enlarging tarmacs, lengthening runways and improving services.
