China announces new mega airport for economic engine Yangtze River Delta
- About 100km away from Shanghai’s two existing airports, the new flight hub will be larger than Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in size
- The airport in Nantong is designed with two long-distance runways that can handle annual throughput of 40 million passengers, authorities say
Shanghai and neighbouring Jiangsu province will jointly build a new airport in an effort to boost the transport network of the Yangtze River Delta, China’s largest economic circle.
Dubbed the third airport of Shanghai, China’s top aviation hub, it will be situated in the adjacent city of Nantong in Jiangsu and be operated by a joint venture formed by the two governments, according to a notice released by Shanghai’s market regulator late last month.
Qin Yun, president of Shanghai Airport Authority, said in a speech on January 21 that the project was progressing and was ready to submit for approval from the central government.
Having been under discussion for years, construction of the new airport is expected to begin in November and be completed by 2026-27, according to a plan of key infrastructure projects between 2022-24 issued by the Jiangsu provincial government in February last year.
About 100km away from each of Shanghai’s two existing airports, the mega airport will be larger than Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in size, occupying an area of 670,000 square metres.
It is designed with two long-distance runways that can handle annual throughput of 40 million passengers.