China Southern Airlines flight CZ3001 takes off at the Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Beijing's brand new Daxing International Airport opened to flights on Wednesday afternoon.

(190925) -- BEIJING, Sept. 25, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Located 46 km south to downtown Beijing, The new aviation hub's passenger throughput and cargo throughput are expected to reach 72 million and 2 million tonnes respectively by 2025, with 620,000 takeoffs and landings.

The maiden flight served between Beijing and Guangzhou in south China. Following it, six other Chinese airlines started their respective first flight via the new airport.

A flight attendant sings a song inside the China Southern Airlines flight CZ3001 on Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Tai Sicong)

A passenger signs on a board inside the China Southern Airlines flight CZ3001 on Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Tai Sicong)

Staff members of Xiamen Airlines greet passengers at the terminal of Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Passengers pose with boarding passes at the terminal of Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

China Southern Airlines flight CZ3001 takes off at the Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

The new airport emerges as a pivotal air traffic hub for international travel to and from China as the country is poised to become the world's largest civil aviation market around the mid-2020s.

Photo taken on Sept. 25, 2019 shows the building model placed at the terminal of Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

The new aviation hub is shaped like a phoenix spreading its wings. It only takes a passenger eight minutes to walk from the center of the terminal building to the furthest departure gate.

According to the Daxing airport authority, 66 airlines have applied to operate at the airport. Among them, 20 are domestic airlines and 46 overseas ones. The airport will operate 116 routes connecting to 112 destinations globally around the end of this year.

The Daxing airport is expected to take pressure off the capital airport, which has three terminals. The capital airport, beginning operation in 1958, recorded a passenger throughput of over 100 million in 2018, already surpassing its maximum passenger handling capacity.

An Air China flight takes off at the Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Starting from a metro station in the third southern ring road of Beijing, a passenger can reach the new airport's terminal building in 19 minutes, thanks to the Beijing municipal government's investment in supporting facilities for the airport.

Three urban rail lines and several expressways will connect the 5G-covered airport terminal with the city center, Xiongan New Area and Beijing's surrounding areas.

A Fuxing (Rejuvenation) bullet train pulls in the Daxing Airport Railway Station of the Beijing-Xiongan intercity railway during a test run in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 20, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Photo taken on Sept. 20, 2019 shows face recognition technology-supported check-in facility at Daxing Airport Railway Station of the Beijing-Xiongan intercity railway in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Photo taken on Sept. 20, 2019 shows the transfer hall of the Daxing Airport Railway Station of the Beijing-Xiongan intercity railway in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Passengers prepare to board planes at the terminal of Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Passengers pose for photos at the terminal of Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Passengers board a plane at the terminal of Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

A staff member from China Eastern Airlines (2nd L) helps with face recognition technology-supported check-in facility at the terminal of Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Staff members of China Southern Airlines help with the self-service baggage check counter at the terminal of Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 25, 2019. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

Photo taken on Sept. 25, 2019 shows the terminal hall of Daxing International Airport in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)■