Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
User:Yuezhi_Huang · CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Name	Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport
IATA	SHA
ICAO	ZSSS
Owner	Shanghai Airport Authority
City-served	Shanghai
Location	Changning District, Shanghai
Opened	1921 (as a military airfield)
Hub	* China Eastern Airlines * Shanghai Airlines * Juneyao Air * Spring Airlines
Elevation-f	10
Coordinates	31, 11, 53, N...
Website	[http://www.shairport.com/ shairport.com]

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is one of two major international airports serving the Shanghai metropolitan area, alongside Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Primarily handling domestic and regional flights, it is a key hub for several major Chinese carriers and features extensive integrated transportation links, including a direct connection to the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station. Located in the city's western Changning District, it is one of the busiest airports in China by passenger traffic.

History

The site's aviation history began in 1921 when it was established as a military airfield for the Republic of China (1912–1949). After the founding of the People's Republic of China, it was converted for civilian use, with the first commercial flight operated by the Civil Aviation Administration of China in 1963. Major expansion occurred in the 1980s and 1990s to support Shanghai's rapid economic growth, including the opening of Terminal 1 in 1988. A significant redevelopment was completed in 2010 ahead of the Shanghai Expo, featuring a new Terminal 2 and the integrated Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, transforming it into a major multimodal transport hub.

Facilities

The airport operates two main passenger terminals. Terminal 1, after renovations, now primarily serves Spring Airlines and other low-cost carriers, while the larger Terminal 2 handles the bulk of operations for carriers like China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines. The complex includes the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, one of the largest in Asia, which offers high-speed rail services via the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway and Shanghai–Kunming high-speed railway. Other facilities include two parallel runways, extensive cargo areas managed by companies like Shanghai Airport Authority, and the adjacent Hongqiao International Central Business District.

Airlines and destinations

As a primary domestic hub, it hosts a dense network of flights across China operated by base carriers China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao Air, and Spring Airlines. It also serves as a major gateway for regional international traffic to destinations in East Asia and Southeast Asia, with frequent services to cities like Tokyo-Haneda, Seoul-Gimpo, Taipei-Songshan, and Hong Kong. All international and regional flights are processed in Terminal 1.

Ground transportation

The airport is directly connected to the Shanghai Metro via Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 station on Line 2 and Line 10, and Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1 station on Line 10. The co-located Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station provides high-speed China Railway High-speed services to cities including Beijing, Nanjing, and Hangzhou. Numerous public bus routes, taxi stands, and rental car services from companies like Hertz and AVIS are available. The airport is also linked to the city's expressway network, including the G2 Beijing–Shanghai Expressway and G50 Shanghai–Chongqing Expressway.

Statistics

It consistently ranks among the world's busiest airports. In 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, it handled over 45 million passengers, making it one of the top airports in China by passenger volume. The vast majority of traffic is domestic, with top destinations including Beijing Capital International Airport, Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport, and Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. Cargo traffic is significant but less than that of Shanghai Pudong International Airport, with key operators including SF Express and China Postal Airlines.

Accidents and incidents

The airport has maintained a strong safety record in recent decades. A notable historical incident occurred in 1989 when a CAAC Airlines Tu-154 (flight CA981) experienced a landing gear malfunction after takeoff but managed a safe return. In 1999, a China Southern Airlines Boeing 757-200 overran the runway during landing in heavy rain, resulting in minor injuries but no fatalities. These events preceded major infrastructure upgrades and have been followed by an era of stringent safety oversight by the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

Category:Airports in China Category:Transport in Shanghai Category:Buildings and structures in Shanghai