Peking has opened a new airport terminal designed by Norman Foster

Beijing - Beijing today opened a new airport terminal. The construction, worth 3.6 billion dollars (almost 60 billion CZK), is part of multibillion-dollar investments in infrastructure in the Chinese capital in connection with the upcoming Summer Olympics.
The terminal is nearly three kilometers long and was built in just under four years. Thanks to it, the airport's capacity will increase to 76 million passengers a year. Last year, Beijing's airport handled 52 million passengers.
As the first flight to land at the new terminal adorned with numerous flowers, a domestic connection from Shandong province in eastern China arrived. A few hours later, a British Airways flight from London landed.
The new airport terminal with red pillars and a matte golden roof, similar to those of old Chinese temples and royal palaces, represents a dragon. The building was designed by British architect Norman Foster, who also designed Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok Airport. The terminal was constructed to maximize the use of natural light. The walls are made of glass.
A train from the airport will transport passengers to the city center in 15 minutes. The advanced baggage handling system has a capacity of 19,800 bags per hour. The number of boarding gates leading to the aircraft will almost double due to the new terminal. The number of check-in counters will rise to nearly 300. The terminal also features 64 restaurants and 90 shops. However, it remains uncertain whether it will improve the low standard of services for which the country is notoriously known.
The Chinese Civil Aviation Administration criticizes the low level of services at airports and domestic airlines, especially their attitude towards passengers. They are making every effort to improve the situation before the Olympic Games, which are expected to bring a surge of visitors to the city. In a passenger satisfaction survey conducted by the International Airports Council (ACI), Beijing's airport ranked 62nd in 2006. Yet, in terms of the number of passengers handled, it was the ninth busiest in the world.
The new terminal can currently be used by six airlines, including Sichuan Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qantas Airways, British Airways, and El Al Israel Airlines. Other airlines will start landing here on March 26. These will include Air China, Lufthansa, Singapore Airlines, Air Canada, and other airlines that are members of the Star Alliance. The terminal can also accommodate the world's largest commercial aircraft, the Airbus A380, reported AP and Reuters.