China is once again pushing the boundaries of aviation infrastructure with the construction of the world’s largest airport on an artificial island. The Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport, currently being built off the country’s northeast coast, will set a new benchmark in the industry, promising state-of-the-art facilities and record-breaking capacity.
A Monumental Engineering Feat
The Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport is set to span 20 square kilometers (7.7 square miles), featuring four runways and a 900,000-square-meter (969,000 sq ft) passenger terminal. Its ambitious design aims to accommodate 80 million passengers per year across 540,000 flights, with the first phase expected to be operational by 2035.
“The country’s largest offshore airport is rising slowly from the sea level like the sunrise in the east,” stated an official post by Dalian Jinzhou Bay International on WeChat, highlighting the scale of this mega project.
Surpassing Aviation Giants
Once completed, this airport will surpass Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) and Japan’s Kansai Airport (KIX) as the world’s largest artificial island airport. Dalian, a city with 7.5 million people, is already a critical transport hub due to its proximity to Japan and South Korea. The need for a new airport arose as Dalian Zhoushuizi Airport, the city’s current international airport, reached full capacity despite multiple expansions.
Overcoming Complex Challenges
Constructing an airport on an artificial island presents significant engineering challenges. Li Xiang, chief engineer of Dalian Airport Construction and Development Co., Ltd., explained:
“There have been great challenges to the construction, as the project has complex geological conditions, high drilling difficulty, and high demand in quality with a tight construction schedule.”
The site selection and feasibility studies began in 2003, but due to the complexity of the project, actual construction only started in recent years.
A Symbol of China’s Aviation Growth
China’s rapid expansion in aviation infrastructure reflects its growing dominance in global air travel. The country is on track to surpass the United States as the largest air travel market. The opening of Beijing Daxing Airport (PKX) in 2019, marking the 70th anniversary of the People’s Republic of China, was a testament to this ambition. At that time, Chinese officials projected the need for 450 airports by 2035 to keep up with demand.The Dalian Jinzhou Bay International Airport is not just an airport but a statement of China’s engineering prowess and commitment to dominating the aviation industry. As the project progresses, the world will be watching to see how this monumental feat of modern construction reshapes global air travel.