China Aviation Industry Resumption: Beijing Daxing International Airport re-opens to international travelers

Beijing Daxing International Airport has welcomed its first batch of international travelers since 2020. Our reporter You Yang reports on the arrival of the passenger flight from Nepal.

The first batch of international travelers has arrived at Beijing Daxing International Airport. This is actually three years after international flights had been suspended at the airport due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The first international travelers arrived at Daxing International Airport in Beijing's south from the Nepalese capital Kathmandu. It is a flight operated by Himalaya Airlines.

"We feel very excited when we knew the flight is going to be the first one to arrive at Daxing International Airport. I stayed in Nepal for two years. I missed my family very much. We feel very warm to see our Chinese air hostess on the plane."

"I'm from a Hebei Medical Team to assist Nepal. I have been working at a cancer hospital that China helped Nepal to build. I stayed in Nepal for seven months. I feel so happy that I took the first flight to arrive at the airport."

The plane was returning to Nepal after a short break. And the departing passengers were sharing the same happiness about the re-opening of the airport.

"I feel very happy. Before we don't have a flight flying from Beijing to Kathmandu. I am very happy we have such one. The airport is very beautiful, one of the best airports in the world. It looks very good and staff are very nice."

China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Beijing Capital Airlines are also among the first carriers to resume international flights.

And in terms of regional flights, China Southern Airlines will run three planes per week to China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

YOU YANG Beijing "The Daxing International airport has also resumed the 144-hour visa-free transit program for passengers traveling to the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, and is helping passengers with the customs process."

LI SIYU Deputy Director, Station of Exit and Entry Frontier Inspection, Beijing Daxing International Airport "We are happy to welcome international passengers at Daxing International Airport once again after three years. We are continuing to optimize the process for travelers to go through customs. After the resumption of international flights, we hope passengers could feel more convenient and efficient when they go through customs at the airport."

Authorities at the airports say more international flights to destinations in Europe, North America, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand are also planned. And they believe the new gateway to China is ready to welcome passengers from all over the world.