Beijing Capital International Airport — Beijing, China

Beijing Capital International Airport, universally recognized by its code PEK, expanded into one of the world's largest aviation complexes ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics, when a dramatic new Terminal 3 designed by Norman Foster's architecture firm opened as, at the time, among the biggest airport buildings anywhere on Earth. For years PEK ranked as the busiest airport in Asia and one of the busiest worldwide by passenger volume, anchoring Air China's extensive domestic and international network as the carrier's primary Star Alliance hub. Located northeast of central Beijing in the Chaoyang and Shunyi districts, the airport historically handled the overwhelming majority of the capital's air traffic until Beijing Daxing opened in 2019 and absorbed a substantial share of flights, particularly those operated by China Eastern and China Southern. PEK nonetheless remains a critical gateway for business and diplomatic travel into China's political and cultural capital.