The new Terminal 3B (T3B) at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in China marks the final large-scale expansion of the airport’s transformation into one of the country’s leading aviation hubs.
T3B is the world’s largest satellite terminal by air-passenger traffic. Designed by ZHA to serve 35 million passengers each year, T3B almost doubles the airport’s capacity to now accommodate 80 million travellers, 580,000 aircraft movements, and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo each year.
With its passenger and flight volumes growing significantly since opening in 1990, Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport’s existing facilities had reached capacity. The new terminal supports the expansion of the airport’s operations to serve Chongqing’s ongoing development as one of China’s largest cities and fastest growing regions.
Arranged in an ‘X’-shaped floor plan with 71 aircraft gates and adjacent parking stands, T3B’s configuration maximises aircraft turnover rates and operational efficiency, while maintaining flexibility for future growth and technologies.
Connected to the airport’s Terminal 3A via its underground metro system and airside service lanes, T3B is arranged radially around its central transit station, facilitating intuitive navigation with short walking distances to departure gates providing streamlined processing and passenger transfers.
Passenger circulation within the terminal is managed with optimum efficiency by separating departures and arrivals to minimise congestion during peak periods. Outdoor terraces and courtyards on the northern and southern sides of the terminal are provided for passengers.
Each of the terminal’s four piers include Class C and Class E aircraft stands to support flexible airline operations and rapid gate allocation. These stands, together with the terminal’s aprons and taxiways, have been designed for the most efficient aircraft movement throughout the airport.
Drawing inspiration from the city’s dramatic mountain and river landscapes, the undulating roof incorporates skylights that bring natural light deep into the terminal.
T3B extends 846 meters from north to south and 590 meters from east to west. With a total construction area of 362,987 square meters, the terminal comprises four above-ground floors and two basement levels.
Within Chongqing’s humid subtropical climate, the terminal operates with a zero-carbon air heat source system supporting hybrid natural ventilation. This system eliminates the direct emissions from traditional boilers that would have burned 1.4 million cubic meters of natural gas annually.
Constructed from locally sourced materials, T3B incorporates advanced systems and technologies for greater energy efficiency that includes thermal dimming glazing that adapts to temperature and sunlight for optimal shading.