Zaha Hadid Architects Completes World's Largest Satellite Terminal at Chongqing Airport

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) has completed Terminal 3B (T3B) at Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport in China, the world's largest satellite terminal by passenger traffic. Designed to handle 35 million passengers annually, T3B doubles the airport's capacity to 80 million travelers, 580,000 aircraft movements, and 1.2 million tons of cargo per year. The X-shaped terminal features 71 gates and maximizes operational efficiency with separate departure and arrival flows. Connected to Terminal 3A via an underground metro and service lanes, T3B spans 846 meters north-south and 590 meters east-west, with a total floor area of 362,987 square meters over four above-ground floors and two basements. Inspired by Chongqing's mountainous landscape, the undulating roof incorporates skylights for natural light. The terminal uses a zero-carbon air heating system, eliminating 1.4 million cubic meters of natural gas annually, and features locally sourced materials and thermoregulating glazing. The expansion addresses capacity constraints at the existing airport, which opened in 1990, supporting Chongqing's growth as one of China's largest cities.