Linda Kim BEIJING, August 12 -- Less than 50 kilometers south of China's capital, there's a massive construction project underway that, once finished, will officially become the world's biggest airport. With the opening currently planned for September 30, 2019, the construction of Daxing Airport in Beijing has cost just shy of $12 billion so far. On completion, the new airport will simply act as a second international airport for Beijing, to relieve existing pressure on Beijing's Capital International Airport. The Chinese government wants the airport to be a magnet for businesses and an attraction for locals as well as travelers. “The airport paves the way for, and guarantees, Beijing’s long-term economic growth,” says Yu Zhanfu, a partner at consulting firm Roland Berger GmbH. Yu says he expects it to boost the city’s role as a connection point for domestic travelers and those flying abroad. Daxing is one of many airport projects under way in Asia, collectively costing more than $100 billion, to accommodate a surge in travel fueled by the region’s rising middle class. The International Air Transport Association forecasts Asia’s travel demand to surpass that of North America and Europe combined by 2037. About two dozen airports are slated to open over the next six years in cities ranging from Beijing to Mumbai, while many existing airports are adding terminals or runways. Daxing will increase Beijing’s capacity for travelers by more than 70% and alleviate congestion at Beijing Capital International Airport, the world’s second-busiest last year with more than 100 million passengers. By year’s end, Shanghai will unveil a $3 billion, 83-gate terminal that will be separate from the airport’s main building. According to Reuters, carriers such as China Southern, China Eastern, and Beijing Capital Airlines will be relocated to the new Daxing airport, while airlines including Air China, Hainan Airlines and Grand China Air will remain at Beijing Capital International Airport. Here's what the huge construction project looks like at the moment.
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