When Beijing Capital International Airport opens its third terminal, T3, next February it will double retail space at the airport. The T3 air mall will cover 52,670m², accounting for around 5% of the total space within the new terminal.

It will include domestic retail areas in T3A, while international duty free shopping areas, various convenience stores and around 15,000m² of food and restaurant outlets will be in T3B.

BCIA officials say that the retail shopping area per one million annual passengers will be 1,115m², which is comparable to the airports in Hong Kong and Singapore.

Beijing Capital Airport Commercial & Trading Company holds franchise rights to all commercial activities at Beijing Airport and is looking for specialist branded shops to come into the new T3 retail space.

Earlier this year Beijing Capital International Airport pledged to lower retail prices at the airport to bring them in line with levels downtown by year-end. Customers will also get a seven-day return guarantee. The airport is seeking to improve its services ahead of the 2008 summer Olympics.