On Feb. 29, Beijing Capital International Airport's new US$3 billion-plus Terminal 3 opened as Shandong Airlines flight SC1151 arrived from Jinan at 8:39 a.m.

UK architect Norman Foster claimed it is the largest covered structure ever built -- 3.25 km. long and 1.3 million sq. m. of floor space. Construction began in March 2004.

The airport said the three-concourse facility welcomed Shandong, Sichuan Airlines, Qantas, Qatar Airways, British Airways and El Al on Feb. 29.

A second move is scheduled for March 26 when Air China, Shanghai Airlines, SAS, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa, Asiana Airlines, Air Canada, United Airlines, ANA, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines, Finnair, Cathay Pacific Airways, Japan Airlines, Dragonair, Turkish Airlines, Emirates, Air Macau, S7 Airlines and EgyptAir will transfer to the new building.

Reuters reported that airport capacity will be boosted to 76 million per year from the 52 million it served in 2007. The baggage system can handle 19,800 pieces per hr., it said.