Beijing Daxing redirects international flights to Capital Airport

All international flights arriving in Beijing will land at the Capital International Airport, including those previously landing at the city's southern Daxing International Airport, in a bid to contain surging cross-border infections.

Starting Friday, all inbound international flights to Beijing Daxing International Airport had been taken over by the Capital International Airport in Shunyi district, said Zhao Ying, vice-general manager of Capital Airport Holding Company, which operates two capital airports.

She said this during Beijing's daily media briefing to combat the virus on Saturday, adding that all passengers' luggage will be disinfected after travelers arrive.

On Tuesday, Beijing Capital International Airport divided a designated area Zone D of Terminal 3 to take flights departing from hard-hit countries. Body temperature checks, health monitoring, identity inspection, as well as arrivals or transfer for inbound travelers will be completed at the area.

"About 100, 000 square meters, the Zone D is in the middle of Zone C and Zone E of Terminal 3, which is comparatively isolated to prevent cross infections within the airport," said Zhao.

When flights from countries in severe epidemic situation land at the airport, the planes will be stationed at designated places and all passengers on the flights will undergo body temperature examinations before they go through immigration procedures at the border inspection, added Zhao.

Sterilization to the Zone D of Terminal 3 will be strengthened as a thorough disinfection of restrooms, elevators, doors of the corridors connecting aircraft to the terminal will be conducted after an inbound airplane arrives, she said.

Beijing Daxing International Airport, in the capital's southern Daxing district, has been put into operation since Sept 25 and was scheduled to serve 15 international routes during this year's winter and spring seasons, according to previous statement from the airport.