China built the world’s largest artificial island airport

China announced the construction project of the world’s largest artificial island airport, Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport, expected to be completed in 2035, Interesting Engineering reported on December 17. This is also the first airport in mainland China built on an artificial island at sea.

The new project is estimated to cost 4.3 billion USD and is being implemented in Dalian. This is a vibrant port city with a population of more than 6 million people, and has good economic relations with Japan and Korea. Dalian is located on a peninsula at the northern end of the Bohai Strait.

Dalian Jinzhouwan International Airport will cover an area of ​​up to 20 square kilometers, surpassing both Hong Kong International Airport (12.48 square kilometers) and Japan’s Kansai International Airport (10.5 square kilometers) in size. These two airports are also located on artificial islands. With a favorable geographical location, the new airport is expected to become an important regional air transport hub, facilitating connections between Dalian and many domestic and international destinations.

The new airport is expected to have 4 runways and a 900,000 square meter terminal. The airport will initially serve 43 million passengers a year, but is expected to double that to 80 million passengers, according to the Airports Council International. Meanwhile, the airport’s annual cargo capacity is expected to reach one million tons.

In August, deep foundation treatment for the 77,000 m2 reclaimed land area was completed. This is one of the key steps in preparing the site for construction, especially in areas with soft or unstable soil.

Dalian’s existing airport, Dalian Zhoushuizi, built during the Japanese occupation, has reached its capacity limit after multiple expansions. Last year, this airport served 658,000 international passengers. Aviation consultant Li Hanming also expressed concerns about Dalian Zhoushuizi. The location in a valley surrounded by mountains can make it difficult for pilots to navigate, especially in bad weather, increasing the risk of accidents, Li pointed out.

The new airport promises to improve Dalian’s connectivity, but also carries some risks. Located on a man-made island, this structure can easily sustain damage from natural disasters and accidents. In addition, bridges connecting airports to the mainland can be easily damaged during natural disasters such as earthquakes, storms, or even human-caused accidents such as ship collisions. This could isolate the airport and disrupt operations.