Shanghai shifting all international flights to new airport at Pudong

Shanghai has decided to shift all international flights, including Hong Kong arrivals, from the older Hongqiao airport to the modern airport in Pudong in an attempt to shore up the area's role as the city's core aviation hub, according to the airport operator.

Speaking yesterday on the sidelines of the National People's Congress, Shanghai Airport (Group) chairman Xia Keqiang said the move would occur on October 28. The Hongqiao facility would become a domestic travel hub and supplement Pudong operations, Mr Xia said. Traffic to be moved from Hongqiao included flights from Hong Kong, Japan and Southeast Asia.

Mr Xia said the move was designed to bolster air traffic at Pudong International Airport, which had been under-used since it was opened in 1999. Only 6.9 million passengers travelled through Pudong airport last year, despite a design capacity of 80 million.

At present, Pudong is a hub for flights from North America and Europe, and for some domestic flights from northern China.

Hongqiao airport, faced with capacity constraints, was due to close after Pudong airport opened but many airlines wanted to stay because of Hongqiao's proximity to the city centre.

A taxi ride to the city centre from Hongqiao takes less than 30 minutes, but more than an hour from Pudong airport.

Hongqiao is still Shanghai's leading airport, in passenger and cargo throughput.