Work on the satellite hall of Shenzhen International Airport was officially initiated Friday.
It is expected to add 22 million passengers a year to the airport’s total capacity upon completion in 2021.
The satellite hall, located between T3 and the runways, will be connected with T3 by an underground fast transit system.
The X-shaped satellite hall project includes a satellite hall with 56 boarding bridges, auxiliary projects and a fuel supply project.
At an investment of 10.9 billion yuan (US$1.58 billion), the satellite hall project covers 235,000 square meters and five stories, including the underground transit system and floors for domestic arrivals and departures.
Passenger turnover at the Shenzhen airport is expected to reach 50 million this year, an increase of 8.5 percent over 2017. T3, which was opened at the end of 2013, was designed to handle 45 million travelers a year.
According to the design, the satellite hall only provides boarding and transferring services. Passengers will still need to complete check-in, luggage consignment, luggage claim and security checks at T3.
The future transit system will include three stops connecting to T3, the satellite hall and the future T4. The trains will depart at two-five minute intervals, and the trip between T3 and the satellite hall will take about three minutes.
T4 and the third runway will be built on 4.2 million square meters of land that has been reclaimed from the sea, which is equivalent to 600 standard soccer pitches. Work on T4 is scheduled to start in 2020.