Beijing Capital International Airport hits 100 million passenger mark

Beijing Capital International Airport handled its 100 millionth passenger of the year on Friday, making it the first Chinese airport, and the second in the world, to reach the milestone, the airport said in a news releases.

Since 1978, when its annual passenger was just 1.03 million, the airport has seen an average annual growth rate in passenger traffic of 12.1 percent. 

It has also witnessed dramatic growth in terms of cargo traffic, handling 2 million metric tons of cargo this year, compared with 34,000 tons 40 years ago. 

Opened in 1958, the capital's main airport has been the world's second-busiest airport in terms of passenger traffic since 2010. 

The airport also plays an important role in the regional economy. According to the airport, it contributed over 140 billion yuan ($20.43 billion) annually to the regional economy from 2013 to 2017, providing a total of 611,000 jobs.