Shanghai's Pvg Airport: Which County Reigns?

Shanghai Pudong International Airport, often abbreviated to PVG, is one of two international airports serving Shanghai, China. Located in the province of Pudong, the airport is about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the city centre of Shanghai. The airport is a major aviation hub in China, serving both international and domestic flights.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport's location and transport links

Shanghai Pudong International Airport is located in the province of Pudong, China, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from downtown Shanghai. The airport is situated in the eastern part of the city, adjacent to the coastline in eastern Pudong. It covers an area of 40 square kilometres (15 square miles) and is one of the two international airports serving Shanghai, along with Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.

Pudong Airport serves as a major hub for both passenger and cargo traffic. It is the main hub for China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, and a significant international hub for Air China. It also serves as a secondary hub for China Southern Airlines and several privately-owned airlines, including Juneyao Air and Spring Airlines. The airport features two large passenger terminals, with a third terminal planned, and five runways, with two new runways recently added as part of an expansion project.

The airport is well-connected to the city of Shanghai and its surrounding areas by various transport options, including rail, road, and bus services. The Shanghai Metro Line 2 and the Shanghai Maglev Train provide direct connections between Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, with a travel time of around 40 minutes between the two airports. The maglev train also offers a fast ride to downtown Shanghai, with a stop at Longyang Road Station, where passengers can transfer to Metro Line 2.

Additionally, Pudong International Airport offers a free shuttle bus service between its terminals, operating 24 hours a day at intervals of 10 to 15 minutes. Several airport bus lines, including long-distance buses, connect the airport to various destinations within Shanghai and neighbouring cities such as Hangzhou, Jiaxing, Yiwu, and Suzhou. Taxi services are also available, providing convenient travel options to and from the airport.

PVG's status as a major aviation hub

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (IATA: PVG, ICAO: ZSPD) is one of the two international airports in Shanghai, China, and is a major aviation hub in the country. Located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) east of Shanghai's city centre, PVG occupies a 40-square-kilometre (10,000-acre) site adjacent to the coastline in eastern Pudong. The airport is operated by the Shanghai Airport Authority and serves as the main hub for China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines. It is also a major international hub for Air China and a secondary hub for China Southern Airlines. PVG is a fast-growing hub for both passenger and cargo traffic, serving a total of 54,476,397 passengers in 2023, making it the second-busiest airport in China, sixth-busiest in Asia, and the twenty-first-busiest in the world. The airport is also the busiest international gateway in mainland China, with 35.25 million international passengers, accounting for about half of its total passenger traffic.

PVG is well-connected to Shanghai and surrounding areas. It is linked to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport by the Shanghai Metro Line 2 and the Shanghai Maglev Train, which can reach speeds of up to 431 km/h and takes only 8 minutes to travel from the city centre to the airport. Additionally, there are airport buses connecting PVG to the city centre and surrounding cities like Hangzhou, Kunshan, Suzhou, and Nanjing. PVG is easily accessible and provides a convenient travel experience for its growing number of passengers.

The airport has undergone significant development since its opening in 1999, with continuous expansion projects to accommodate increasing demand. The first phase of construction began in October 1997 and was completed in September 1999, with the airport officially opening on 1 October 1999. PVG has since added new runways, terminals, and cargo facilities to enhance its capacity and functionality. With its strategic location, efficient transportation links, and continuous expansion, PVG has solidified its status as a major aviation hub in China and the Asia-Pacific region.

PVG's terminals, runways and facilities

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) is one of two airports serving Shanghai, China. Located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) from the city centre, PVG is the primary aviation hub for Shanghai due to its extensive international networks and high volume of passengers.

Terminals

PVG has two main passenger terminals, Terminal 1 and Terminal 2, which are arranged as the verticals of an H shape. A third passenger terminal, Terminal 3, began construction in 2021. Terminals 1 and 2 are interconnected, with a free shuttle service running between them every 10 minutes. Terminal 1 is the main hub for China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, and 10 other international airlines. Terminal 2 was built in 2008 and has a capacity of 60 million passengers.

Runways

PVG initially opened with one 4,000-metre (13,000 ft) runway, but now has four operational runways flanked on both sides of the terminals. Two runways are 3,800 metres (12,500 ft) long, and the other two are 3,400 metres (11,200 ft) long. The runways have different ratings, with the longest runway capable of accommodating aircraft up to the size of a Boeing 747-400.

Facilities

PVG offers standard facilities, including restaurants, banks, luggage storage, lost and found, medical services, and free Wi-Fi. The airport also has a few VIP lounges, some of which provide basic business facilities. Information counters and left luggage services are available in both terminals.

PVG's passenger and cargo traffic

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (IATA: PVG, ICAO: ZSPD) is one of the two international airports serving Shanghai, China. Located about 30 km (19 mi) east of Shanghai's city centre, in the province of Pudong, the airport serves as a major hub for both passenger and cargo traffic. PVG is the main hub for China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, and a major international hub for Air China. It also serves as a secondary hub for China Southern Airlines and a hub for privately owned Juneyao Air and Spring Airlines.

PVG is a crucial centre for cargo transport, with a dedicated cargo terminal and a large area for cargo handling. In 2024, the airport handled 3,440,084 metric tons of cargo, making it the world's third-busiest airport by cargo traffic. PVG is also an Asia-Pacific cargo hub for FedEx, UPS, and DHL, with the DHL hub being the largest express hub in Asia. The airport's cargo traffic experienced growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, fuelled by the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), vaccines, and online retail.

In terms of passenger traffic, PVG served a total of 54,476,397 passengers in 2023, making it the second-busiest airport in China, the sixth-busiest in Asia, and the twenty-first-busiest in the world. The airport has an annual passenger capacity of around 70-80 million, with about half of its total passenger traffic being international. PVG has two large terminals, with Terminal 1 having a capacity of 20 million passengers and Terminal 2 expanding the airport's overall capacity to 60 million passengers annually.

PVG is connected to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport, the city's other major airport, by the Shanghai Metro Line 2 and the Shanghai Maglev Train. It is also accessible via airport buses from the city centre. The airport has four terminals with modern facilities, providing a comfortable and efficient travel experience for passengers.

PVG's history and expansion

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (IATA: PVG) is located in the province of Pudong, China, about 20 miles from the city centre of Shanghai. It is one of the two international airports serving Shanghai, the other being Shanghai Hongqiao, which mainly serves domestic and regional flights in East Asia.

The history of PVG can be traced back to the late 1980s, when the airport was constructed to relieve the load on Shanghai's primary airport at the time, Hongqiao International Airport. Construction of the first phase of PVG began in October 1997 and was completed in September 1999, with the airport officially opening on 1 October 1999. The first phase included a 4,000-metre runway, two taxiways, a large apron, and a cargo warehouse. Terminal 1, shaped like a seagull, opened on the same day, with a capacity of 20 million passengers.

Since its opening, PVG has undergone several expansions to accommodate growing passenger and cargo traffic. A second runway was added in 2005, and construction of phase two, including a second terminal, a third runway, and a cargo terminal, began in December 2005. This phase was completed in March 2008, in time for the Beijing 2008 Summer Olympics.

In 2011, the airport received approval for another expansion, which included the construction of two additional runways, bringing the total number to five. This expansion project doubled the airport's capacity and was completed in 2015. The third phase of expansion started in December 2015, with the construction of a new south satellite terminal, which is expected to be the world's largest single satellite terminal upon completion.

PVG is now a major aviation hub in China, serving nearly 75 million passengers annually. It is connected to Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and the city of Shanghai by the Shanghai Metro Line 2 and the Shanghai Maglev Train.

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