Beijing Daxing: World’s Largest Terminal Stands Largely Empty

(Beijing) Beijing Daxing International Airport, the world’s largest airport terminal by size, is drawing attention for what it lacks: people. Nearly six years after its 2019 opening, the vast, star-shaped hub on the southern edge of the capital remains markedly underused. As of mid-2025, industry assessments say current traffic is running at less than two-fifths of what the facility was built to handle this year, with passenger volume far below earlier forecasts. Officials still aim for 100 million travelers by 2040, but today’s quiet concourses tell a different story.

The scale-versus-usage gap

The numbers underline the mismatch between ambition and reality. The single-terminal building spans about 700,000 square meters, a scale unmatched anywhere else. Designers set 2025 capacity at 72 million passengers annually, with room to grow to 100 million by 2040.

Yet multiple reviews in 2025 describe the terminal as “nearly empty,” and analysts say operations remain at a fraction of that target. That mismatch has fed debate over:

• planning assumptions,
• the pace of international recovery, and
• how Beijing’s two-airport strategy divides demand between Daxing and the older Capital airport to the northeast.

Airport managers have tried to grow domestic links and attract more carriers, but 2025 has delivered few wins. No major new international airlines have launched service to Daxing this year, and several existing overseas routes have reduced frequencies or paused. The root causes are familiar: the lingering effects of COVID-19, changing airline strategies, and geopolitical headwinds that keep long-haul demand—especially to North America and Europe—below pre-pandemic expectations.

Passenger experience and economic ripple effects

For the travelers who do use Daxing, the airport can feel almost private. Security lines are short, gates are calm, and there’s plenty of seating. The trade-offs include:

• fewer open shops and restaurants,
• vendors keeping limited hours due to weak foot traffic, and
• airport-wide fixed costs (climate control, cleaning, staff) that do not shrink with lower passenger volumes.

Those dynamics add pressure on the airport’s balance sheet, while airlines weigh where to place scarce aircraft and crews. The downstream effects touch many livelihoods:

• taxi drivers and ground transporters see fewer fares,
• cleaning crews, caterers, and retail workers feel reduced hours or income, and
• nearby businesses miss potential customers who might visit before or after flights.

Operational picture and development outlook

China Southern, China Eastern, and China United remain the main tenants at Beijing Daxing International Airport, yet none has markedly ramped up operations this year. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) continues to support a long-term dual-hub plan for the capital, acknowledging short-term underperformance while emphasizing growth over time.

Key operational and development notes for 2025:

• There are no major expansion projects slated for 2025.
• Officials continue to talk about Daxing’s future as a global hub but have not revealed new incentives this year.
• Industry watchers suggest policy changes could matter most: liberalized air service agreements, targeted fee breaks, or marketing support may be needed to attract more international carriers.
• The current strategy focuses on incremental steps and gradual gains in domestic connectivity.

Origins and the pandemic’s impact

When Daxing opened in September 2019, with a striking design by Zaha Hadid Architects, it was intended to ease congestion at Beijing Capital International and set a new standard for transfer flows. Months later, the pandemic slammed air travel worldwide.

• Domestic flying in China recovered unevenly.
• Long-haul traffic lagged even more.
• Airlines rebuilt networks cautiously and shifted capacity to faster-return markets.

The result: a megastructure that often feels too big for the day’s schedule. Even at peak times, lounge areas can look sparse and many gates sit idle between banks of flights.

Facts at a glance — 2025

Policy levers and strategic choices

Policy tools remain available, though none were rolled out in 2025. Potential measures include:

• easing bilateral limits,
• allowing more flexible schedules,
• offering targeted fee relief, and
• strengthening domestic feeder networks to support long-haul viability.

Another strategic variable is how airlines split their Beijing operations. With two major airports in one city, carriers decide whether to:

1. consolidate at one hub for scale, or
2. divide flights to serve different parts of the metro area.

If long-haul routes remain concentrated at Capital, Daxing’s international footprint will grow slowly. If agreements, partnerships, or slot allocations shift toward Daxing, the balance could change—driven by slot access, costs, and promise of steady demand.

Practical advice for travelers

Travelers planning trips through Beijing should:

• Check which airport their flights use (Daxing vs. Capital).
• Expect long walking distances at Daxing, though wayfinding is clear.
• Anticipate quieter terminals, which can make connections less stressful.
• Note that some retail and dining options may close early or rotate hours when traffic drops.

For official policy updates, the Civil Aviation Administration of China posts notices at https://www.caac.gov.cn/en/ (link preserved as in original).

Important takeaway: building capacity is the start, not the finish. Schedules must match real demand; carriers need reasons to commit aircraft and crews; communities around the airport rely on steady passenger flows for jobs and commerce.

Outlook

Beijing Daxing International Airport remains a bold statement of design and ambition. Its sheer size contrasts with thin crowds in the near term, but the terminal was built with a long horizon—100 million passengers by 2040.

Meeting that goal will require:

• sustained domestic growth,
• a stronger rebound in international travel,
• trust and commitment from airlines, and
• potentially supportive policy actions and partnerships.

If policies shift and partnerships grow, Daxing can still fill its intended role. Until then, it stands as the largest airport terminal on earth, waiting for the crowds to arrive.