Capital airport gears up to handle Olympic departures

Beijing Capital International Airport has adjusted flight schedules to ensure the smooth departure of Winter Olympic delegations after the Games, civil aviation service providers said.

The Games, which opened on Feb 4, ended on Sunday.

The airport has dedicated its Terminal 3 to Olympic departures until Friday.

Games participants have been required to stay within a biosecurity bubble since their arrival due to COVID-19 pandemic control protocols.

Non-Olympic-related flights scheduled to leave and arrive at Terminal 3 have been transferred to Terminal 2.

The North China Regional Administration of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said Terminal 2 has been handling nearly 400 domestic flights a day since Sunday, including those transferred from Terminal 3.

Between Jan 4 and Feb 15, Beijing Capital International Airport handled 436 Olympic-related flights, 49 chartered flights, 18,194 participants and 48,204 pieces of luggage, according to CAAC.

Sun Jianying, an official with the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, said the airport has made every effort to optimize departures and pandemic control protocols.