For the first time, Shanghai Pudong Airport has overtaken China’s capital of Beijing as the busiest air hub in the country. Shanghai’s two airports, Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA), handled 3.61 million tonnes of cargo and mail in 2014, which accounted for 27 percent of the country’s total cargo and mail, compared to 1.89 million tonnes at Beijing’s two airports. PVG handled 3.18 million tonnes of cargo and mail, 1.33 million more than Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK), ranking third in the world and first in China for seven consecutive years.
In the first five months of 2015, Shanghai’s two airports have dealt with 48.15 million passengers – 28.99 million at PVG and 19.16 million at SHA, according to statistics released by East China Air Traffic Management Bureau. This surpasses the 44.07 million that passed through PEK.
Shanghai welcomed more regional and international passengers than Beijing. In 2014, PVG handled up to 26 million regional and international passengers, accounting for about 50 percent of the total passengers. In the first half of the year, PVG saw over an average growth of 20 percent in international travelers.
It is predicted that the air traffic demand will continue to grow at Shanghai’s two airports in the coming years, too, due to the launch of Shanghai Disneyland in the spring of 2016. A new third airport is also planned for Beijing.