Flight inspections at new Beijing airport completed 19 days early

Beijing's new international airport finished its flight inspections on Sunday, 19 days ahead of schedule, according to the civil aviation authority.

At 10:20 am, an aircraft taking off from Beijing Capital International Airport in the northeastern part of the city landed smoothly on the northern runway at Beijing Daxing International Airport. The Civil Aviation Administration’s North China Regional Bureau called the event a "successful completion" in a news release, referring to its series of flight inspections.

The inspections, which lasted for 34 days, started on Jan 22 and were supposed last until March 15 to cover the airport's four runways, six landing systems, lighting facilities and other services.

Flight inspections, which all airports must undergo before opening, are designed to ensure the airport's flight procedures and aviation navigational aids will be ready for operation, according to the news release.

Daxing airport is scheduled to be completed by June 30 and enter commercial operation before Sept 30.