Beijing Capital International Airport Now Second Only To Atlanta Hartsfield#
Perhaps not a surprise due to its massive size and location in the heart of East Asia -- and considering this was predicted back in April -- but today it was announced that Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) has officially overtaken London Heathrow as the world's second-busiest airport, second only to Atlanta Hartsfield. Rather than just being the result of China's huge population and increasing international business, the AFP sees this distinction as reflecting "China's growing dominance of international travel." Indeed, what is most impressive about this story is that ten years ago PEK didn't even make the list of the world’s 30 busiest airports.
In terms of seat capacity, Beijing International is now second only to Atlanta Hartsfield in the US, according to a July 6 report by aviation analyst OAG.
Beijing's business has been boosted by a sharp growth in the number of passenger seats to Asia, a growth of nine percent which equates to some 15.3 million more seats flying to or from the region.
The full Top 10, ranked by seat capacity, as compiled by OAG:
1. Atlanta Hartsfield (ATL)
2.
Beijing (PEK)
3. London Heathrow (LHR)
4. Chicago O Hare (ORD)
5. Tokyo Haneda (HND)
6. Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG)
7. Los Angeles (LAX)
8. Frankfurt (FRA)
9. Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
[h/t Luxuo]