Shanghai Hongqiao Airport
Encyclopedia
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport is the main domestic airport serving Shanghai
, China, with limited international flights. It is located near the town of Hongqiao in Changning District
, 13 km west of downtown, and is closer to the city center than Pudong Airport, Shanghai's main international airport.
In 2010, Hongqiao Airport handled 31,298,812 passengers, a growth of 24.8% over 2009, making it the 4th busiest airport in China and the 41st busiest in the world
. The airport was also China's 5th busiest airport in terms of cargo traffic and the 7th busiest by traffic movements.
, the airport was occupied by the Japanese and used as an air force base. Its military use continued after being handed over to the Republic of China
government and, later, the People's Republic of China government. From late 1963, it was rebuilt for civilian use, and was re-opened in April 1964. A major expansion took place from March to September 1984, and another from December 1988 to December 1991.
Hongqiao Airport served as Shanghai's primary airport until the completion of Pudong International Airport in 1999, when almost all international flights were moved to Pudong. The airport presently offers mainly domestic flights, as well as five international or cross-border routes with "city-to-city" service to central Tokyo
's Haneda Airport
, central Seoul
's Gimpo Airport, central Taipei
's Songshan Airport, Hong Kong
, and Macau
.
). With the new runway, Shanghai became the first city in China to have five runways for civilian use (Shanghai-Pudong and Shanghai-Hongqiao combined). As a result of the expansion, Hongqiao Airport was rated the most improved airport in the world by Skytrax
in 2011.
, a major train hub served by the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, the Shanghai–Hangzhou High-Speed Railway
and the Shanghai–Nanjing Intercity High-Speed Railway. It is also served by three stations of the metro network
:
The proposed extension of the Shanghai Maglev Train
from Longyang Road through Shanghai South Railway Station
to Hongqiao would connect the two airports. At top speed, the maglev would take only 15 minutes to travel the 55 km route. Original plans called for completing the extension by 2010, in time for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo; however, the Hongqiao extension has been postponed. There have been discussions about slowing the Maglev within urban areas but allowing full-speed operation along non-urban portions of the track. In the meantime, there remains an empty section of Terminal 2 with "Maglev" signage for this purpose.
A taxi rank serves the airport from the arrivals level. A bus stop provides various services to other parts of the city. A minibus route terminates at Jing An Temple station.
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China, with limited international flights. It is located near the town of Hongqiao in Changning District
Changning District
Changning District is a district of Shanghai. It has a land area of 37.19 km² and a population of 620,000 as of 2003. The district government is located in 1320 Yuyuan Rd. Zhongshan Park is located in the district....
, 13 km west of downtown, and is closer to the city center than Pudong Airport, Shanghai's main international airport.
In 2010, Hongqiao Airport handled 31,298,812 passengers, a growth of 24.8% over 2009, making it the 4th busiest airport in China and the 41st busiest in the world
World's busiest airports by passenger traffic
The world's busiest airports by passenger traffic are measured by number of total passengers . One passenger is described as someone who arrives in, departs from, or transfers through the airport on a given day...
. The airport was also China's 5th busiest airport in terms of cargo traffic and the 7th busiest by traffic movements.
History
An airport was first built in the town of Hongqiao in the west of Shanghai in 1907, initially as a small military airfield. In March 1923, it was upgraded into the Hongqiao Airport for civilian use. During the Second Sino-Japanese WarSecond Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War was a military conflict fought primarily between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. From 1937 to 1941, China fought Japan with some economic help from Germany , the Soviet Union and the United States...
, the airport was occupied by the Japanese and used as an air force base. Its military use continued after being handed over to the Republic of China
Republic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
government and, later, the People's Republic of China government. From late 1963, it was rebuilt for civilian use, and was re-opened in April 1964. A major expansion took place from March to September 1984, and another from December 1988 to December 1991.
Hongqiao Airport served as Shanghai's primary airport until the completion of Pudong International Airport in 1999, when almost all international flights were moved to Pudong. The airport presently offers mainly domestic flights, as well as five international or cross-border routes with "city-to-city" service to central Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
's Haneda Airport
Tokyo International Airport
, commonly known as , is one of the two primary airports that serve the Greater Tokyo Area in Japan. It is located in Ōta, Tokyo, south of Tokyo Station....
, central Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
's Gimpo Airport, central Taipei
Taipei
Taipei City is the capital of the Republic of China and the central city of the largest metropolitan area of Taiwan. Situated at the northern tip of the island, Taipei is located on the Tamsui River, and is about 25 km southwest of Keelung, its port on the Pacific Ocean...
's Songshan Airport, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
.
New Terminal 2 and runway
In preparation for the Shanghai Expo, on March 16, 2010 Hongqiao Airport completed a five-year 15.3-billion-yuan expansion project, which included a 3,300-meter second runway and the new Terminal 2, boosting Hongqiao's capacity to 40 million passengers a year. Terminal 2 is four times the size of the original Terminal 1 and now houses 90 percent of all airlines at the airport (Terminal 1 is now exclusively for international flights and Spring AirlinesSpring Airlines
Spring Airlines is a budget airline with its headquarters in the Homeyo Hotel in Changning District, Shanghai, People's Republic of China...
). With the new runway, Shanghai became the first city in China to have five runways for civilian use (Shanghai-Pudong and Shanghai-Hongqiao combined). As a result of the expansion, Hongqiao Airport was rated the most improved airport in the world by Skytrax
Skytrax
Skytrax is a United Kingdom-based consultancy, the public face of Inflight Research Services, which has the largest airline and airport review and ranking site. It conducts research for commercial airlines...
in 2011.
Ground transportation
Hongqiao Airport is located adjacent to Shanghai Hongqiao Railway StationShanghai Hongqiao Railway Station
Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station is one of the four major railway stations in Shanghai, China, the others being Shanghai Railway Station, Shanghai South Railway Station, and Shanghai West Railway Station...
, a major train hub served by the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, the Shanghai–Hangzhou High-Speed Railway
Shanghai–Hangzhou High-Speed Railway
The Shanghai–Hangzhou High-Speed Railway , also known as the Huhang High-Speed Railway or Huhang Passenger Railway is a high-speed rail line in China between Shanghai and Hangzhou. The line is in length and designed for commercial train service at . It was built in 20 months and opened on October...
and the Shanghai–Nanjing Intercity High-Speed Railway. It is also served by three stations of the metro network
Shanghai Metro
The Shanghai Metro is the urban rapid transit system of China's largest city, Shanghai. The system incorporates both subway and light rail lines. It opened in 1995, making Shanghai the third city in Mainland China, after Beijing and Tianjin, to have a rapid transit system...
:
- Hongqiao Railway StationHongqiao Railway Station (Shanghai Metro)Hongqiao Railway Station Station is an interchange station between Line 2 and Line 10 of the Shanghai Metro. The station entered operation on 1 July 2010, nearly four months after the opening of the line's Hongqiao extension. It is located near Hongqiao International Airport and a railway station...
: Line 2Shanghai Metro Line 2Line 2 forms the east-west axis of the Shanghai metro network, intersecting with the north-south axis Line 1 at People's Square. With a length of nearly 64 km, it is the longest line in the metro system. Line 2 runs from Xujing East in the west to Pudong International Airport in the east,...
, Line 10 - Hongqiao Airport Terminal 2 Station: Line 2Shanghai Metro Line 2Line 2 forms the east-west axis of the Shanghai metro network, intersecting with the north-south axis Line 1 at People's Square. With a length of nearly 64 km, it is the longest line in the metro system. Line 2 runs from Xujing East in the west to Pudong International Airport in the east,...
, Line 10 - Hongqiao Airport Terminal 1 Station: Line 10
The proposed extension of the Shanghai Maglev Train
Shanghai Maglev Train
The Shanghai Maglev Train or Shanghai Transrapid is a magnetic levitation train, or maglev line that operates in Shanghai, China. It is the first commercially operated high-speed magnetic levitation line in the world...
from Longyang Road through Shanghai South Railway Station
Shanghai south railway station
Shanghai South Railway Station, also Shanghai South Station , is a railway station in the city of Shanghai, China. Located in the Xuhui District, its importance is second only to the Shanghai Railway Station...
to Hongqiao would connect the two airports. At top speed, the maglev would take only 15 minutes to travel the 55 km route. Original plans called for completing the extension by 2010, in time for the 2010 Shanghai World Expo; however, the Hongqiao extension has been postponed. There have been discussions about slowing the Maglev within urban areas but allowing full-speed operation along non-urban portions of the track. In the meantime, there remains an empty section of Terminal 2 with "Maglev" signage for this purpose.
A taxi rank serves the airport from the arrivals level. A bus stop provides various services to other parts of the city. A minibus route terminates at Jing An Temple station.
Airlines and destinations
See also
- Shanghai Pudong International AirportShanghai Pudong International AirportShanghai Pudong International Airport is the primary international airport serving Shanghai, China, and a major aviation hub in Asia. The other major airport in Shanghai, Hongqiao, mainly serves domestic flights...
- List of airports in the People's Republic of China
- List of the busiest airports in the People's Republic of China