A strategic guideline aimed at elevating the Shanghai international aviation hub to a world-class aviation hub with the capacity to handle 200 million passenger trips and 5.4 million metric tons of cargo and mail by 2035, was unveiled on Tuesday.
The guideline, formally known as "the New Journey of the New Era: Strategic Plan for Shanghai International Aviation Hub", was released during the opening ceremony of the 2026 North Bund Forum being held in Shanghai from Oct 20 to 21.
According to the guideline, a comprehensive international aviation hub with global influence will take shape in the 2050s.
Under the plan, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, and the new airport to be built in Nantong of Jiangsu province, will operate as an integrated, highly efficient system, Li Nuo, deputy director general of the Civil Aviation Administration of China's department of development planning, said during the North Bund international aviation forum held on Tuesday afternoon.
Specifically, with the completion of the fourth phase of the Shanghai Pudong International Airport by 2030, Shanghai International aviation hub's annual passenger throughput is expected to reach 150 million passenger trips, and cargo-and-mail throughput will grow to 4.7 million tons, laying the foundation for a leading aviation hub in the Asia-Pacific region, Li said.
"The new airport in Nantong by 2035 will increase the Shanghai international aviation hub's capacity to 200 million passengers and 5.4 million tons of cargo-and-mail, facilitating the city's efforts to build a comprehensive international aviation hub with global influence by the middle of this century," Li said.
The Shanghai international aviation hub plan was among more than 90 outcomes announced at this year's North Bund Forum, the largest number in the event's history.
Hosted jointly by the Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai Municipal People's Government, this year's event consisted of more than 60 activities, including an opening ceremony, a main forum, two forums, and five thematic sessions.
