Beijing Capital International Airport's Terminal 3 will start operating on a trial basis on Feb. 29 after about four years of construction. [Photo: cnsphoto]

Workers perform an operational test run in the new passenger Terminal 3 at Beijing Capital International Airport on Saturday, about five weeks before its official opening next month.

The drill was the fifth one held at the terminal and the first large-scale test run geared towards handling the influx of visitors and athletes who will come to the capital in August for the Summer Olympics.

Altogether 5,000 mock passengers have participated in the drills, which have covered all terminal operations from domestic and international check-ins to departures and arrivals to baggage claims. When the airport conducts its final drill on Feb. 23, a total of about 8,000 mock passengers will have participated.

The new terminal will start operating on a trial basis on Feb. 29 and officially open for business on March 26.

Beijing Capital International Airport's new Terminal 3. [Photo: cnsphoto]

(CRI February 18, 2008)