Shanghai Hongqiao Airport reopens intl flights

China Eastern Airlines Flight MU721, the first flight after the resumption of international flights and Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan flights at Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, waits to take off on March 26. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport officially reopened flights to international destinations, as well as Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan on March 26, which was the first day of the 2023 summer and autumn aviation season.

"The airport plans to operate 314 international and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan flights per week during the new aviation season, an increase of 22 flights compared to the same period in 2019," said Tang Yichen, deputy general manager of Hongqiao airport's flight area.

According to Tang, the flights will be operated by 11 airlines, with 56 flights per week to Tokyo's Haneda and Seoul's Gimpo, 78 flights per week to Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok, 72 flights per week to Macao, and 52 flights per week to Taipei's Songshan.

In addition, the Hongqiao airport has also expanded its domestic routes. Beijing-Shanghai, Shanghai-Guangzhou and Shanghai-Shenzhen premium direct flights are among the top three in China. The airport has also increased the frequency of direct flights to Xi'an, Chengdu, Kunming, and Urumqi.

Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports operate a total of 2,225 flights per day (1,449 flights per day at Pudong and 776 flights per day at Hongqiao), which is about 80 percent of the same period in 2019. Domestic flights are expected to recover to 118.5 percent of the same period in 2019, and international and Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan flights are expected to recover to 62.4 percent of the same period in 2019.

As passenger traffic rebounds, a batch of stores and restaurants are opening at the airport to provide travelers with more options.