New international routes boost passenger traffic at Shanghai airports

Shanghai's airports handled record passenger traffic after the increase in the international flight network.

The Pudong and Hongqiao airports handled 147,000 flights over the past two months, an increase of 3 percent from last year. Passenger traffic rose 5 percent to 24.18 million from July 1 through August 31.

On August 15, the two airports served 421,000 passengers, the highest single-day figure on record, the Shanghai Airport Authority said on Monday.

New long-haul routes now link Shanghai to Belgrade, Serbia; Casablanca, Morocco; and Geneva, Switzerland.

Airlines also resumed or added services to Ibaraki, Japan; Cheongju, South Korea; and Manado, Indonesia, while increasing flights to Osaka, Kuala Lumpur, and Hanoi.

In Central Asia, travelers had direct access to Shymkent and Almaty in Kazakhstan, Tashkent in Uzbekistan, and Ulaanbaatar in Mongolia.

Pudong Airport has opened new transfer halls and upgraded its baggage systems. A through-check service now allows passengers to check their bags to their final destination, even when flying with different airlines.

Both airports provide 24-hour security and customs clearance. Travelers with long layovers can access rest areas, sleeping pods, and showers.

Pudong Airport has added more self-service check-in and bag drop machines, while Hongqiao has introduced family-friendly security lanes.

Nearly 60 information screens have been installed at ride-hailing pickup points to display real-time driver details in both Chinese and English.

Both airports feature concerts, operas, and puppet shows as part of summer programs for international and domestic visitors.