At the last drill to test Terminal C’s functions, held Saturday, some mock passengers said the airport needed more detailed signs to guide drivers to check-in areas because the terminal, which covers 450,000 square meters, is triple the size of current terminals A and B combined. A mock passenger surnamed Peng suggested that the airport use more electric carts to transport passengers.

    It can take about 15 minutes to reach the most outlying gate, Gate 50, from the security check area. Airport officials said the new terminal features many moving sidewalks to help passengers get around quickly.

    “It takes about 30 minutes to reach the farthest gates from the bus stop. That can be a challenge for the elderly and for children carrying luggage,” Peng said.

    Arriving passengers will pick up checked luggage on the first floor. Electronic signboards detail the arrivals of flights and luggage. It takes only about two minutes to get from the baggage area to the General Traffic Center (GTC), where passengers can take buses, taxis and, eventually, Metro trains.

    The underground parking garage offers 2,900 parking spaces. Open-air parking south of the GTC provides1,800 parking spaces, doubling the amount currently offered by terminals A and B. Terminal C is designed to handle 45 million passengers a year by 2035.

    Airport officials have launched an informational website about the new terminal at http://nt.szairport.com, to help passengers. An English-language version of the site is not available.

    The opening of the new terminal will coincide with Shenzhen airport’s widespread use of the airport’s new logo (Above).