Beijing Capital Airport to Close During Opening Ceremonies of Olympics

Beijing Capital International Airport will close during the Olympic Games opening ceremony on August 8, Reuters reports. All non-Olympic aircraft will remain restricted from landing or taking off between 8 p.m. (12 p.m. GMT, 8 a.m. ET) and midnight on the evening of the ceremony. The closure is forcing airlines to reschedule dozens of flights.

The restrictions are a few of several security measures already taking place throughout China. Aircraft also remains banned from overflying Beijing, and passengers are prohibited from carrying lighters and matches onboard aircraft. Passengers at Beijing, Shanghai, and other airports in cities designated as diversion airfields during the Olympics, as well as the regions of Xinjiang and Tibet, will have to clear security before entering terminals.

"The resultant consequences, such as missing the flight, will be taken by the passengers themselves," reads a statement on the Civil Aviation Administration of China's website, www.caac.gov.cn.

Travel agents have told Reuters that several domestic flights were "already booked out" on the evening of August 8, but would not provide further details.