Beijing Capital Airport

Continent: Asia Country: China
Beijing
Capital Airport
Location Beijing, China
IATA code PEK
ICAO code ZBAA
Airport type Commercial
Website [ ]
Overview map [ ]
Communications
Tower
Ground
Clearance
Approach
ATIS
Plane Spotting Hotels guide


Official Spotting Locations

There is a park called West Lake Park (西湖园) on the west side of T3. The landing lights of runway 36R extend into the park. At the far side of the park, there is a little hill with a large zodiac sign on the ground overlooking the runway. You can photograph planes lining up for take off from 36R as well as planes on final approach to 36R..

To go there, exit from the west (left) most exit of T3 and walk past a few buildings on your right. You will see a large covered parking area for the bicycles and motorcycles for the airport employees. Pass the parking area you will see the park. Enter the park and follow the lake shore and path to the hill with zodiac sign in the middle of the park.

Location

Other Spotting Locations

There is a long walkway connecting T1 and T2. It overlooks the domestic ramp for MU, HU and CZ. There might be some reflection to watch out.

To go there, simply reach T2 and follow the sign to the walkway to T1.

Location

Locations to Avoid

Location

Regular Traffic

Air China (CA): A-319/320/321, A-330-200/300, B-737-700/800, B-777-200/300ER/F. It's common to find CA airplanes in speical liveries at PEK.

China Eastern (MU): A-319/320/321, A-330-200/300, B-737-700/800, B-777-300ER.

China Southern (CZ): A-319/320/321, A-330-200/300, A-380, B-737-700/800, B-777-300ER, B-787-8.

Both MU and CZ regularly send their special livery planes to PEK.

China Hainan (HU): A-330-300, A-340-600, B-737-700/800, B-767-300, B-787-8. There are many Airbus and Boeing narrow bodies belong to subsidiaries of HU -- Capital Airlines, China Xinhua Airlines, Grand China Airlines, etc.

Air Algerie (AH): A-330-200

Air Canada (AC): B-777-200/300ER, B-787-8

Air France (AF): A-380, B-777-300ER

Air Koryo (JS): TU-204; depending on traffic demand, JS might also send An-148 or IL-62.

Air Macau (NX): A-321

All Nippon Airlines (NH): B-767-300, B-787-8

American (AA): B-777-200ER

Asiana Airlines (OZ): B-747-400, B-777-200

British Airways (BA): B-777-300ER

Cathay Pacific (CX): A-330/340, B-777-300/ER

China Airlines (CI): A-330-300, B-747-400

Delta (DL): A-330-300, B-767-300, B-777-200/LR

Dragon Air (KA): A-320, A-330-300

El Al (LY): B-767-300

Emirates (EK): A-380

Ethiopian (ET): B-777-200LR

Etihad (EY): A-330-300

EVA Airlines (BR): B-747-400, B-777-300ER

Garuda Indonesian Airlines (GA): A-330-200

Korean Airlines (KE): B-747-400, B-777-200/300

Japan Airlines (JL): B-767-300, B-787-8

KLM (KL): B-747-400

Malasyian Airlines (MH): A-330-300

Singapore Airlines (SG): A-380, B-777-300ER

Thai (TG): B-777-200

United (UA): B-747-400, B-777-200ER

Vietnam Airlines (VN): A-321

Facilities and Transportation