China is set to add another remarkable achievement to its aviation sector with the development of the world’s largest airport situated on a man-made island. The Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport, currently being built off the northeast coast of the country, will span across a 20-square-kilometer (7.7-square-mile) island. The airport will feature four runways and a massive passenger terminal, covering an area of 900,000 square meters (969,000 square feet). This ambitious project is expected to enhance China’s aviation capabilities significantly.
The operators of the Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport plan to accommodate 80 million passengers annually, with 540,000 flights expected. The first phase of the airport is slated to open in 2035.
A post on the airport’s official WeChat account describes the project as “the country’s largest offshore airport, slowly rising from the sea like the sunrise in the east.”
Once finished, the Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport will become the world’s largest airport built on an artificial island, surpassing both Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Japan’s Kansai Airport (KIX).
Li Xiang, the chief engineer of Dalian Airport Construction and Development Co., Ltd., mentioned in October that the project faces significant challenges, including complex geological conditions, difficult drilling, and high quality standards, all while adhering to a tight construction timeline.
Located in Dalian, a city with a population of 7.5 million, the airport is strategically positioned as a transportation hub due to its proximity to Japan and South Korea.
Dalian’s existing international airport, Zhoushuizi, has been in operation for nearly a century and has already reached its maximum capacity. It has undergone several expansions in recent years to accommodate growing demand.
The process of selecting a site and planning for the new Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport began in 2003, but construction only accelerated a few years ago.
New airports are a crucial part of China’s expanding aviation industry. The country is set to surpass the United States and become the world’s largest air travel market.
Beijing’s second airport, Daxing (PKX), opened with much celebration on October 1, 2019, coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. At that time, Chinese officials projected the need for 450 airports by 2035 to meet growing demand.