Passengers check in orderly at the counters. Photo: Courtesy of Air China

As the official airline partner of the just concluded Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, Air China has effectively transferred all domestic flights from the T3 terminal in Beijing Capital International Airport to the T2 terminal within 34 hours starting from 4 pm Friday, ensuring the successful departure of all international flights for departing Olympians and officials, while guaranteed the closed-loop operation of the transportation for passengers from the Winter Olympics Village to the terminal. 

Following the responsibility assigned by the Civil  Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to efficiently complete the terminal transfer for domestic flights taking off from T3 to T2, China National Aviation Holding Co  immediately responded by forming a special team with detailed plans implemented for involved sectors from domestic passengers and participants of the Games. 

Air China came up with the plan for transferring terminals within three hours after receiving the notification from CAAC, with specific measures and tasks covering every working procedure involved, such as passenger service, epidemic prevention and flight adjustments.

Ground service staff members adjust the equipment. Photo: Courtesy of Air China

In a bid to successfully complete the task, employees from Air China have worked around the clock. The lights in Air China's operating control center remained on at 12 am on Saturday, with all employees on duty to gather the newest information and schedule flights, while guaranteeing the smooth operation of each procedure from airplane arrangement to plan the departure time for each flight. 

Han Jingyan, Party Secretary of Air China's Operation Control Center, who was on duty at the site, said that the transportation control formed a table for all inbound and outbound flights every hour to provide a timely and first-hand information for the work force while guiding the company to clearly understand the actual operation situation to make proper arrangements. 
Meanwhile, Air China placed significant emphasis on strengthening the management and inspection on safety. 

Staff members have a meeting on Sunday morning before the first morning rush hours Photo: Courtesy of Air China

For instance, Air China enhanced communications with crews before flights taking off, while further strengthening monitoring and analysis of the operating environment and issuing  weather warnings with other preparations being completed in advance to ensure the enough supply of equipment and other necessities. 

At the same time, Air China's commercial department immediately carried out the flight adjustment work for domestic inbound and outbound flights, with nearly 1,000 employees continuously working from day to night. 

Moreover, everyone from Air China was on shift since Saturday with full capacity to assist passengers with follow-up process, with the testing for Air China's information system being tested and adjusted prior in order to fulfill a smooth operation. 

A total of 693 volunteers from China National Aviation Holding Co signed up for terminal transfer tasks within 12 hours, and they said that they were proud to be able to contribute their efforts to the Games and feel extremely satisfied seeing passengers' smiles after helping them. 

Staff members work on the terminal transfer. Photo: Courtesy of Air China

Air China flight CA1353 from Beijing to Sanya, South China's Hainan Province, which took off at 6:35 am on Sunday, marked the first flight successfully departing from Beijing following the terminal transfer. From 12 am on Sunday to 10 am on Monday, Air China has guaranteed 21 flights relevant to the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, while guaranteeing 345 domestic flights at the T2 terminal. 

Global Times