September 25th 2019, Beijing Daxing International Airport opens; with seven airlines operating their inaugural flights in the afternoon. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony and announced the official opening.
Seven Inaugural Flights
Here is a picture taken from the west tower of Beijing Daxing International Airport on the day it opened. We can see there are seven aircraft waiting on the apron including: China Southern’s Airbus A380, China Eastern’s Airbus A350-900XWB, Air China’s Boeing B747-8, Xiamen Airlines’ Boeing B787-9, China United Airlines’ Boeing B737-800, Capital Airlines’ Airbus A330-200, and Hebei Airlines’ Boeing 737-800.
16:22 Beijing time, China Southern Airlines‘ CZ3001 flight flying to Guangzhou (CAN) took off from runway 17L/35R. PKX welcomes its inaugural flight.
16:25 China Eastern Airlines‘ flight MU7098 took off, flying to Shanghai Pudong (PVG). Chairman Liu Shaoyong, President Li Yangmin, along with SkyTeam partners came to celebrate.
During the flight, special cabins were arranged and gifts including paper planes and badges were given to every passenger.
16:29, Air China‘s flight CA9597 took off, flying to Chengdu (CTU). Air China’s “One City, Two Markets” plan moved forward another step.
During the flight, every passenger left their names on a signature board. Moreover, Kang Shuqin, one of China’s first-generation flight attendants, gave an exciting speech.
16:33 China United Airlines’ flight KN5631 took off, heading to Yan’an (ENY). Tomorrow, all China United flights will move from Beijing Nanyuan Airport to Daxing Airport.
16:37 Capital Airlines’ flight JD5778 took off, flying to Hangzhou (HGH) with 157 passengers aboard. This is the first flight operated by the blue aircraft named Daxing.
Not only is the airport Daxing and the aircraft is Daxing, but the captain’s name is also Daxing. Right, they definitely choose the captain on purpose.
16:40 Hebei Airlines’ flight NS8016 took off, flying to Fuzhou (FOC). The flight was operated by an aircraft named Zhengding. Hebei Airlines officially begin Daxing-Shijiazhuang two base operation plan.
Today is also the first day Hebei Airlines used their new uniform.
Last but not least, Xiamen Airlines‘ flight MF8866 took off at 16:42, flying to Xiamen (XMN) with 136 passengers aboard. The flight was operated by the only official United Nations livery aircraft in the world.
Daxing’s Future
Beginning September 26th, China United Airlines will completely switch from Nanyuan (NAY) to Daxing; Nanyuan will be closed. Before winter season 2019/2020, Daxing will be exclusively operated by CUA with 130 average daily flights flying to more than 80 destinations.
Below is a chart of other airlines’ plan:
| Airline | Destinations Winter 19/20 | Move-in Date |
| Air China (CA) | Changsha, Chongqing, Harbin, Kunming, Nanning, Shanghai–Pudong, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Zhanjiang, Bangkok | 10/27/2019 |
| Beijing Airline (CA) | – | 03/2020 |
| China Southern Airlines (CZ) | Anshan, Changchun, Changde, Daqing, Ho Chi Minh City, Jieyang, Nanchong, Tongren, Xining, Yanji, Yinchuan, Yiwu, Zunyi–Xinzhou | 10/27/2019 |
| China Eastern Airlines (MU) | Da Nang, Dongying, Hangzhou, Huai’an, Harbin, Linyi, Luoyang, Qingdao, Shanghai–Pudong, Xining | 10/27/2019 |
| Capital Airlines (JD) | Erlianhaote, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jixi, Lijiang, Meizhou, Nanchang, Qingdao, Sanya, Urumqi, Xi’an, Xining, Xishuangbanna, Xiamen, Yushu, Male, Lisbon | 10/27/2019 |
| Hebei Airlines (NS) | Changchun, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guiyang, Hangzhou, Jinggangshan, Lanzhou, Nanchang, Nantong, Ningbo, Sanya, Xi’an, Yangzhou/Taizhou, Yinchuan, Zhalantun, Zhuhai | 10/27/2019 |
| Juneyao Airlines (HO) | Shanghai–Hongqiao | 10/27/2019 |
| British Airways (BA) | London–Heathrow | 10/27/2019 |
| LOT Polish Airlines (LO) | Warsaw–Chopin | 10/29/2019 |
| Finnair (AY) | Helsinki | 11/03/2019 |
| Malaysia Airlines (MH) | Kuala Lumpur–International | 01/01/2020 |
| Royal Air Maroc (AT) | Casablanca | 01/16/2020 |
| Royal Brunei Airlines (RB) | Bandar Seri Begawan | 10/27/2019 |
| Himalaya Airlines (H9) | Kathmandu | 10/27/2019 |
Beijing Daxing International Airport is planning to reach 1050 daily flights with 45,000,000 annual passengers by 2021, increasing to 1570 daily flights with 72,000,000 annual passengers by 2025.
Below is the full opening ceremony, broadcast by CCTV.