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Verdict

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) scores higher overall at 7.8/10 versus Faro Airport (FAO) at 7.2/10.

Score comparison

Metric Beijing Capital International Airport Faro Airport
FlightLogic Score 7.8 7.2
On-Time Performance 7.6 7.0
Passenger Experience 7.7 7.1
Facilities & Comfort 8.0 7.5
Lounge Score 8.4 6.9
City Beijing Faro
Country China Portugal
Terminals 3 terminals (T1, T2, T3) 1 terminal
Annual passengers 73M+ 9M+

Operational comparison

Transport links, lounge access, connection times, and UK261 eligibility — verify locally before travel.

Policy PEK — Beijing FAO — Faro
Rail / public transport
To city centre
Lounge day pass
Min. connection time
Primary hub carriers

Detailed profiles

Beijing, China · PEK · #1 in this comparison

Beijing Capital International Airport

3 terminals (T1, T2, T3) · 73M+ passengers/year

7.8 / 10

How good is Beijing Capital International Airport?

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) scores 7.8/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.6), passenger experience (7.7), and facilities (8.0). Lounge quality rates 8.4/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Beijing Capital PEK scores 7.8/10 on FlightLogic with lounge score 8.4/10. Terminal 3 hosts Air China and Star Alliance international flights. Allow 90+ minutes for connections and immigration. Not to be confused with Daxing PKX. See /guides/beijing-airport-lounge-guide.

FlightLogic Score 7.8 Very Good
On-time 7.6 Departure reliability
Experience 7.7 Staff, queues, cleanliness
Facilities 8.0 Food, shops, seating
Lounges 8.4 Lounge quality
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance
7.6
Passenger Experience
7.7
Facilities & Comfort
8.0
Lounge score 8.4/10

Highlights

  • Terminal 3 is among the world's largest airport buildings — Air China First and Business lounges
  • Star Alliance carriers consolidate in T3 for international departures
  • Common connection point for UK–China and UK–Southeast Asia on Air China and partners
  • Beijing Daxing (PKX) serves some carriers separately — check ticket carefully

Overview

Air China and Star Alliance hub — Terminal 3 dragon-themed mega-terminal with strong premium lounges for UK–China and UK–Asia routings.

Terminal 3 and Air China lounges

Terminal 3 serves most international Star Alliance traffic including Air China long-haul. First and Business lounges offer Chinese and international buffet dining with shower suites.

UK passport holders typically need a visa for China unless qualifying for 144-hour transit visa-free in Beijing — verify current rules before planning a layover exit.

Faro, Portugal · FAO · #2 in this comparison

Faro Airport

1 terminal · 9M+ passengers/year

7.2 / 10

How good is Faro Airport?

Faro Airport (FAO) scores 7.2/10 (Very Good) on FlightLogic's airport index — combining on-time performance (7.0), passenger experience (7.1), and facilities (7.5). Lounge quality rates 6.9/10. See full airport guide →

In short

Faro FAO scores 7.2/10 — Algarve leisure gateway. Compare /airports/lisbon for city breaks. See /guides/best-airlines-uk-portugal-greece and /guides/faro-airport-lounge-guide.

FlightLogic Score 7.2 Very Good
On-time 7.0 Departure reliability
Experience 7.1 Staff, queues, cleanliness
Facilities 7.5 Food, shops, seating
Lounges 6.9 Lounge quality
Rating basis Editorial FlightLogic methodology

Score breakdown

Modelled on industry airport indices — on-time data, facilities ratings, and editorial experience signals combined into a single FlightLogic score.

On-Time Performance
7.0
Passenger Experience
7.1
Facilities & Comfort
7.5
Lounge score 6.9/10

Highlights

  • Primary UK gateway to Algarve resorts — Albufeira, Lagos, Vilamoura within 45–90 min drive
  • Jet2 and TUI package traffic dominates alongside Ryanair and easyJet
  • Compact single terminal — straightforward navigation; summer queues at security
  • UK261 on UK-return flights

Overview

Algarve gateway — Jet2, TUI, easyJet, Ryanair, and BA leisure schedules from across the UK for Portugal's southern coast.

Algarve access

Pre-book transfers — public transport to western Algarve resorts is limited. Taxi and Uber available landside.

Peak UK bank holiday weeks (Easter, half-term) see 90+ min security queues — arrive early.

More comparisons

Compare Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) against 59 other airports
Compare Faro Airport (FAO) against 59 other airports

FAQ

Which is better, Beijing Capital International Airport or Faro Airport?

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) scores higher overall at 7.8/10 versus Faro Airport (FAO) at 7.2/10.

Which has better lounges, PEK or FAO?

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) scores higher for lounges at 8.4/10, versus Faro Airport at 6.9/10.

Which airport is more on-time, PEK or FAO?

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) has stronger on-time performance at 7.6/10 versus Faro Airport (FAO) at 7.0/10.