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Beijing Capital International Airport

Beijing, China

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535

Routes out

206

Destinations

ZBAA

ICAO

116 ft

Elevation

AirlinesAirports profile

China's premier gateway, one of the world's busiest airports.

Opened

1958

Location

Beijing, China

Beijing Capital International Airport (IATA: PEK, ICAO: ZBAA) is the primary international airport serving Beijing, China, and one of the busiest airports in the world by passenger traffic. It serves as the main hub for Air China and a major gateway for dozens of international carriers connecting China to the rest of the world. The airport is located approximately 32 kilometers northeast of central Beijing and covers a vast area with three passenger terminals. Terminal 3, opened in 2008 ahead of the Beijing Olympic Games, was designed by architect Norman Foster and remains one of the largest airport buildings in the world by floor area. In recent years, Beijing Capital has shared international traffic duties with the newer Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX), which opened in 2019. Despite this, Capital remains the dominant hub for Air China and Star Alliance carriers serving the Chinese capital.

Terminals

The airport operates three terminals—T1, T2, and T3—with T3 being the largest and handling the majority of international and Air China flights.

Getting to & from

The Airport Express rail line connects the airport to central Beijing in approximately 20 minutes, with taxi, bus, and private car services also widely available.

Airlines here

Air China uses Beijing Capital as its primary hub, and the airport is also served by major international carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France, and numerous other Star Alliance and non-alliance airlines.

Notable facts

›Terminal 3, opened in 2008, was designed by architect Norman Foster and is one of the largest buildings in the world by floor area.
›The airport was significantly expanded ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
›Beijing Capital held the rank of second-busiest airport in the world by passenger traffic for several years in the 2010s.
›The Airport Express rail link opened in 2008 and runs directly to Dongzhimen and Sanyuanqiao stations in central Beijing.
›Beijing now has two major international airports, with Daxing (PKX) opening in 2019 to relieve capacity pressure on Capital.

Official website Wikipedia

This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.

Route map (203 destinations)

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap © CARTO

Airlines serving this airport

Canadian National Airways

Cathay Pacific

China Southern Airlines

TAM Brazilian Airlines

Japan Airlines

Japan Airlines Domestic

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines

Swiss International Air Lines

El Al Israel Airlines

China Eastern Airlines

Routes

PEK → CKG3U · 319 321 320

PEK → CTU3U · 321 320 330

PEK → WXN3U · 320

PEK → ZHY3U · 320

PEK → MNL5J · 320

PEK → KMG8L · 738 737

PEK → LUM8L · 737

PEK → ORDAA · 777

PEK → SEAAA · 787

PEK → NGOAB · 332

PEK → TXLAB · 330

PEK → YVRAC · 330 77W

PEK → YYZAC · 77W

PEK → CDGAF · 77W 772

PEK → ALGAH · 330

PEK → HELAY · 333

PEK → AUHAZ · 332

PEK → LHRBA · 744

PEK → TPEBR · 77W 744

PEK → ADDCA · 77L

PEK → ARNCA · 333

PEK → BAVCA · 738 737

PEK → BHYCA · 738

PEK → BKKCA · 738

PEK → CAICA · 330

PEK → CANCA · 321 777 772 738 773 744 333

PEK → CDGCA · 773

PEK → CGOCA · 738

PEK → CGQCA · 330 738 321 320

PEK → CHGCA · 737

PEK → CIFCA · 738

PEK → CJJCA · 321

PEK → CKGCA · 330 737 738 321 773

PEK → CNXCA · 738

PEK → CPHCA · 343

PEK → CSXCA · 321 738

PEK → CTSCA · 738

PEK → CTUCA · 321 330 777 333 320 738

PEK → CZXCA · 738

PEK → DATCA · 738

PEK → DAXCA · 737

PEK → DDGCA · 738

PEK → DELCA · 333

PEK → DLCCA · 738

PEK → DQACA · 738

PEK → DSNCA · 738

PEK → DUSCA · 330

PEK → DXBCA · 333

PEK → DYGCA · 737 738

PEK → EWRCA · 777

PEK → FCOCA · 330

PEK → FNJCA · 737

PEK → FOCCA · 738

PEK → FRACA · 773

PEK → FUGCA · 737

PEK → GMPCA · 738 333

PEK → GVACA · 330

PEK → GYSCA · 737

PEK → HAKCA · 321

PEK → HELCA · 333

Aircraft operating here

Boeing 737-800163 routes Boeing 737114 routes Airbus A320104 routes Airbus A32176 routes Airbus A33049 routes Airbus A330-30046 routes Airbus A31928 routes Boeing 77723 routes Boeing 777-30021 routes Airbus A330-20016 routes Boeing 777-300ER14 routes Boeing 777-20010 routes

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City & Place Guide

Ancient imperial grandeur meets modern China in one vast capital.

Beijing is China's political and cultural heart, a metropolis of over 21 million people where millennia of imperial history coexist with gleaming skyscrapers and cutting-edge innovation. The city served as the capital of the Ming and Qing dynasties, leaving behind an extraordinary legacy of palaces, temples, and hutong alleyways that draw millions of visitors each year.

Beyond its historic monuments, Beijing offers world-class museums, a vibrant arts scene centered around the 798 Art District, and a street food culture that rivals any city in Asia. Visitors will find the city endlessly layered — a place where morning tai chi in a courtyard park gives way to rush-hour crowds on a futuristic metro system.

•Great Wall at Mutianyu — a restored, less-crowded section with stunning mountain scenery.
•Forbidden City — the vast imperial palace complex at the center of the city.
•Temple of Heaven — magnificent Ming-dynasty altar where emperors once prayed for harvests.
•Summer Palace — a serene royal retreat of gardens, pavilions, and Kunming Lake.
•Tiananmen Square — iconic, massive public square flanked by monumental state buildings.
•798 Art District — converted factory complex housing galleries and cutting-edge contemporary art.

Getting around: Beijing's extensive subway system covers the city with 27 lines and is the easiest, cheapest way to reach major attractions. Buses are plentiful but require a transit card and some Chinese reading ability. Taxis are metered and affordable; always ask for the meter to be used. Didi, China's dominant rideshare app, works reliably and supports in-app translation, making it the most convenient option for non-Chinese speakers.

Best time: Late April through early June and September through October offer mild temperatures, lower humidity, and clearer skies, making them the most pleasant seasons to visit.

Local food: Do not miss Peking duck at a traditional roastery, jianbing street crepes, zhajiang noodles, lamb hotpot, and snacks along the historic Wangfujing Snack Street.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.

Passport, Visa & Immigration

Flying internationally via PEK? Check entry, transit and customs requirements for China from official government sources.

China visa & entry information →Embassy & consulate finder →

Encyclopaedia

Beijing Capital International Airport is the busier of the two international airports serving Beijing, the capital city of China. The airport is located 32 km (20 mi) northeast of downtown Beijing, in an exclave of Chaoyang and the surroundings of that exclave in suburban Shunyi. The airport is owned and operated by the Beijing Capital International Airport Company Limited, a state-controlled company. The airport's IATA Airport code, PEK, is based on the city's former romanized name, Peking. The facility covers an area of 1,480 hectares of airport property. It was opened in 1958.

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