First international flight take off Beijing's Daxing Airport

Source: By Lilit Marcus and Maggie Hiufu Wong, CNN

(CNN)—Beijing's much-hyped Daxing International Airport (PKX) has now lived up to its name with the first flights departing to foreign climes.

The Zaha Hadid-designed airport opened just ahead of country-wide celebrations of the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1.

The airport's first outbound international flight, a China Airways route to Bangkok, took off at 7:50 a.m. local time on October 27.

The first inbound international arrival, British Airways flight 39 from London landed at the airport at about an hour and a half later at 9:13 a.m.

The airport, which has already been nicknamed "the starfish" for its multipronged look, was officially opened for business by Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

China Southern and China Eastern airlines will make Daxing their home base, while Air China will be primarily based at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK).

According to state-run broadcaster CCTV, there are currently 12 flights a day from Daxing going to Macao, Hong Kong and Taiwan, accounting for about 3% of total airport traffic.

The goal is to have that number increase to 22 flights per day by March 2020.

There's more to Daxing than airplanes however. It is also home to Aerotel Beijing, the country's largest airport hotel.

Currently, PEK airport is the second busiest in the world, behind only Atlanta's Hartsfield Jackson Airport in the United States. Shanghai's Pudong airport (PVG) ranks at number nine. 

By current projections, China will pass the United States to become the world's top aviation market by the year 2023.

As well as the addition of a brand-new airport, China has other plans for boosting tourism to the country.

Earlier this month, several other cities, including Xi'an and Chengdu, were added to the list of cities with a 144-hour (six-day) stopover visa, meaning that tourists can now get a simpler visa for layovers in these cities if they can prove they are continuing on to another country. 

China's largest airport hotel opens in the new Beijing Daxing International Airport

(CNN) —Given the size of the high-tech new Daxing International Airport in Beijing, which opened in late September, it's only fitting that the airport's only in-terminal hotel is equally as grand.

Aerotel Beijing is the largest in-terminal airport hotel in China. courtesy Plaza Premium Group

The 215-key establishment, which opened its doors to guests on September 25, spans two floors and is more than 9,000 square meters (96,875 square feet) in size -- a relatively small chunk of the starfish-shaped airport terminal, which is a whopping 700,000 square meters.

Located in the Northwest Pier of Daxing, Aerotel Beijing is five minutes away from the nearest domestic check-in counters and a 10-minute walk from international ones.

The design is relatively modest -- think minimalist furnishings and neutral colors. Instead, the hotel focuses on providing what's needed the most among travelers -- comfortable bedding and powerful showers.

Comfortable beds and fast internet connection aside, Aerotel also features a gym, a game room and a restaurant. courtesy Plaza Premium Group

Guests can rent rooms in blocks of three, six, nine or 12 hours -- so there's no need to pay a day rate.

"We created Aerotel to take care of travelers needing a space to rest right at the terminal with no constraint on check-in time," said Song Hoi-see, founder and CEO of Plaza Premium Group, in a statement.

Library Lounge, the brand's signature restaurant, serves an international buffet and offers a la carte menus.

There's also a gym, inside a birdcage-like room, and a game room.

The group's flagship property, Aerotel Beijing is also the first hotel in the group to have two meeting rooms and a multifunctional VIP room that can host up to 36 guests.

Airport hotels on the rise

Aerotel Beijing's games room. courtesy Plaza Premium Group

After the opening of the first Aerotel in Singapore Changi Airport in 2016, the group -- better known for building airport lounges -- has expanded and now operates 10 properties around the world.

It's all part of a greater trend in aviation. Airport hotels -- either in-terminal or nearby properties -- have become more popular and more awe-inspiring in recent years.

JFK Airport, for instance, recently opened the long-awaited TWA hotel, with 512 rooms and a retro-aviation theme.

Meanwhile, Paradise City outside Incheon International Airport in South Korea is a $2 billion resort featuring artworks from Damien Hirst and Yayoi Kusama, a nighttime theme park and a casino.

Aerotel Beijing, 2/F Northeast Pier, Beijing Daxing International Airport; [phone]

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/travel，By Lilit Marcus and Maggie Hiufu Wong

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