Beijing has unveiled a $12 billion airport that’s the biggest in the world

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Beijing has unveiled a $12 billion airport that’s the biggest in the world

beijing mega airport

Reuters/Jason Lee

Beijing is getting ready to unveil a brand new airport that’s set to become the world’s largest.

The Beijing Daxing Airport is being built 42 miles south of the Chinese capital. It’s a looming steel infrastructure meant to relieve pressure on Beijing’s existing airport, which opened a new terminal in 2008 ahead of the Olympic games, according to Reuters.

Scroll down for a closer look at the massive project:

Beijing broke ground on the project in 2014 under President Xi Jinping.

Beijing broke ground on the project in 2014 under President Xi Jinping.

Thomson Reuters

The Daxing Airport is 42 miles south of Beijing and will be accessible by expressway and high-speed train. Technically, it’s located in the Hebei province, but its proximity to the capital should relieve some stress from Beijing Capital International Airport.

The Daxing Airport is 42 miles south of Beijing and will be accessible by expressway and high-speed train. Technically, it's located in the Hebei province, but its proximity to the capital should relieve some stress from Beijing Capital International Airport.

The inner view of the terminal hall of new Daxing Airport constructed on the outskirts of BeijingThomson Reuters

The Beijing Capital International Airport is already bigger than most. It had the second-highest total passenger traffic in 2016, falling just short of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport’s passenger tally.

The Beijing Capital International Airport is already bigger than most. It had the second-highest total passenger traffic in 2016, falling just short of the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport's passenger tally.

Arch Daily

Source: Business Insider

Atlanta’s International airport is the busiest airport in the world, averaging 275,000 passengers a day. The terminal complex measures 6.8 million square feet.

Atlanta's International airport is the busiest airport in the world, averaging 275,000 passengers a day. The terminal complex measures 6.8 million square feet.

REUTERS/Tami Chappell

Source: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport

Daxing could challenge Atlanta’s passenger traffic. It will initially serve 45 million passengers annually, but could eventually support 100 million passengers each year.

Daxing could challenge Atlanta's passenger traffic. It will initially serve 45 million passengers annually, but could eventually support 100 million passengers each year.

Thomson Reuters

The airport will span 18 square-miles, including runways. It required 57,000 tons of steel to construct.

The airport will span 18 square-miles, including runways. It required 57,000 tons of steel to construct.

Thomson Reuters

It cost roughly $12 billion to build.

It cost roughly $12 billion to build.

Thomson Reuters

Two of China’s three major airports will use the airport, which will account for most of the airport’s total traffic. China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines will fly in and out of Daxing once it opens.

Two of China's three major airports will use the airport, which will account for most of the airport's total traffic. China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines will fly in and out of Daxing once it opens.

REUTERS/Jon Woo

The airport is scheduled to open in 2019.

The airport is scheduled to open in 2019.

Thomson Reuters

Danielle Muoio (18 Oct 2017) Beijing has unveiled a $12 billion airport that’s the biggest in the world. Retrieved from: businessinsider
2017-10-19T12:09:24-04:00