Beijing Capital Airport
Continent: Asia | Country: China |
Beijing Capital Airport |
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Location | Beijing, China |
IATA code | PEK |
ICAO code | ZBAA |
Airport type | Commercial |
Website | [ ] |
Overview map | [ ] |
Communications | |
Tower | |
Ground | |
Clearance | |
Approach | |
ATIS | |
Plane Spotting Hotels guide |
Official Spotting Locations
There is a park called West Lake Park (西湖园) on the west side of T3. The landing lights of runway 36R extend into the park. At the far side of the park, there is a little hill with a large zodiac sign on the ground overlooking the runway. You can photograph planes lining up for take off from 36R as well as planes on final approach to 36R..
To go there, exit from the west (left) most exit of T3 and walk past a few buildings on your right. You will see a large covered parking area for the bicycles and motorcycles for the airport employees. Pass the parking area you will see the park. Enter the park and follow the lake shore and path to the hill with zodiac sign in the middle of the park.
Location
Other Spotting Locations
There is a long walkway connecting T1 and T2. It overlooks the domestic ramp for MU, HU and CZ. There might be some reflection to watch out.
To go there, simply reach T2 and follow the sign to the walkway to T1.
Location
Locations to Avoid
Location
Regular Traffic
Air China (CA): A-319/320/321, A-330-200/300, B-737-700/800, B-777-200/300ER/F. It's common to find CA airplanes in speical liveries at PEK.
China Eastern (MU): A-319/320/321, A-330-200/300, B-737-700/800, B-777-300ER.
China Southern (CZ): A-319/320/321, A-330-200/300, A-380, B-737-700/800, B-747-8, B-777-300ER, B-787-8.
Both MU and CZ regularly send their special livery planes to PEK.
China Hainan (HU): A-330-300, A-340-600, B-737-700/800, B-767-300, B-787-8. There are many Airbus and Boeing narrow bodies belong to subsidiaries of HU -- Capital Airlines, China Xinhua Airlines, Grand China Airlines, etc.
Aeroflot (SU): A-330-300, B-777-300ER
Air Algerie (AH): A-330-200
Air Astana (KC): A-320
Air Canada (AC): B-777-200/300ER, B-787-8
Air France (AF): A-380, B-777-300ER
Air Koryo (JS): TU-204; depending on traffic demand, JS might also send An-148 or IL-62.
Air Macau (NX): A-321
Air Mauritius (MK): A-340-300
All Nippon Airlines (NH): B-767-300, B-787-8
American (AA): B-777-200ER
Asiana Airlines (OZ): B-747-400, B-777-200
British Airways (BA): B-777-300ER
Cathay Pacific (CX): A-330/340, B-777-300/ER
Cebu Pacific (5J): A-320
China Airlines (CI): A-330-300, B-747-400
Delta (DL): A-330-300, B-767-300, B-777-200/LR
Dragon Air (KA): A-320, A-330-300
Egypt Air (MS): B-777-300ER
El Al (LY): B-767-300
Emirates (EK): A-380, B-777-300ER
Ethiopian Airlines (ET): B-777-200LR
Etihad (EY): A-330-200
EVA Airlines (BR): B-747-400, B-777-300ER
Finnair (AY): A-330-300
Garuda Indonesian Airlines (GA): A-330-200
Hongkong Airlines (HX): A-330-200, A-320
Iran Air (IR): B-747-200/SP
Japan Airlines (JL): B-737-800, B-767-300, B-787-8
Juneyao Airlines (HO): A-320
Korean Airlines (KE): A-330-300, B-747-400, B-777-200/300
KLM (KL): B-747-400
LOT Polish Airlines (LO): B-787-8
Lucky Air (8L): B-737, A-320
Lufthansa (LH): A-340-600, B-747-400/8
Malasyian Airlines (MH): A-330-300
Miat Mongolian Airlines (OM): B-737-800
Pakistan International Airlines (PK): A-310
Philippine Airlines (PR): A-320
Qatar Airways (QR): B-777-300ER
S7 Airlines (S7): A-320
SAS (SK): A-340-300
Shangdong Airlines (SC): B-737-700/800
Shengzhen Airlines (ZH): A-320, B-737-700/800
Sichuan Airlines (4U): A-320/321, A-330-300
Singapore Airlines (SG): A-380, B-777-300ER
Spring Airlines (9C): A-320
Swiss (LX): A-330-300
TAAG (DT): B-777-300ER
Thai (TG): B-777-200
Transaero (UN): B-767-300
Turkish Airlines (TK): B-777-300ER
United (UA): B-747-400, B-777-200ER
Ural (U6): A-320
Vietnam Airlines (VN): A-321
Xiamen Airlines (MF): B-737-800, B-757-200, B-787-8
Facilities and Transportation
Beijing Capital International Airport is served by the Airport Express Line of the Beijing Subway. There are stations at T2 and T3. The Express train runs on frequent schedules throghout the day.