“High-Sea Pu-East” I once heard someone call it. That’s Shanghai Pudong International Airport. It’s more than just a place to catch a flight. It’s a testament to Shanghai’s ambition and China’s rapid growth.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport officially opened on October 1 1999. It quickly became a vital hub. The airport stands about 30 kilometers east of Shanghai’s city center. This location in the Pudong development zone was carefully chosen.
Before Pudong Airport existed Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport was Shanghai’s primary airport. Hongqiao couldn’t expand enough to meet rising demand. A new airport was needed to handle international flights.
The Shanghai government sought advice. Professor Chen Jiyu suggested building on the tidal flats of the Yangtze River estuary. This was a perfect location. It allowed for a large airport without disrupting the city.
The first phase cost RMB 12 billion. That’s about US$1.67 billion. It included one 4E category runway. This runway is 4000 meters long and 60 meters wide. There were also two parallel taxiways. The apron covered 800000 square meters. It had 76 aircraft positions and a large cargo warehouse.
Pudong Airport continued to grow. A second runway opened in 2005. Phase two started in 2005 and opened in 2008. This included a second terminal a third runway and a cargo terminal. These expansions supported the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics.
In 2011 the airport received approval for further expansion. This included two more runways. By 2015 the airport’s capacity doubled. This allowed more flights and passengers.
The airport started its third phase in 2015. This involved building a new south satellite terminal. It is the world’s largest single satellite terminal. It can handle 38 million passengers annually. The satellite terminal has two halls S1 and S2. These halls have 83 gates. A people mover connects the satellite terminal to Terminals 1 and 2.
By 2021 construction began on Terminal 3. This new terminal is expected to serve 50 million passengers each year. By 2030 the entire airport should handle 130 million passengers.
Today Shanghai Pudong International Airport has two main passenger terminals. These are flanked by four operational parallel runways. The airport has 162 boarding bridges and 189 remote gates.
Terminal 1 is shaped like a seagull. It has 28 gates and a capacity of 20 million passengers. Terminal 2 resembles a wave. It is slightly larger than Terminal 1.
Pudong Airport is a major hub for several airlines. China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines call it their main hub. Air China and China Southern Airlines also use it as a major international hub. FedEx UPS and DHL have Asia-Pacific cargo hubs here. The DHL hub is the largest express hub in Asia.
In 2023 Shanghai Pudong International Airport served 54476397 passengers. It’s the second-busiest airport in China. It’s also the sixth-busiest in Asia and twenty-first globally. It’s mainland China’s busiest international gateway.
Getting to and from Pudong Airport is easy. Shanghai Metro Line 2 and the Shanghai Maglev Train connect it to Hongqiao Airport. Airport buses also provide service to the city. The Shanghai Maglev Train is the world’s first commercial high-speed maglev railway. It reaches a maximum speed of 431 km/h.
Shanghai Pudong International Airport is more than just an airport. It’s a symbol of Shanghai’s global connections. It shows the city’s commitment to growth and innovation. As you travel through this airport remember its story. It’s a story of ambition and achievement.