Pudong International Airport Expansion, Shanghai, China

Pudong International Airport is 30km south-east of Shanghai, China, and covers an area of approximately 40km². The airport began operations in October 1999 and replaced Shanghai's Hongqiao International Airport. It serves major airline operators and is the prime hub for China Eastern Airlines, Shanghai Airlines and Air China.

The international airport has a capacity to handle 60 million passengers, 555,000 flights and 2.88 million tonnes (Mt) of cargo a year. It comprises two main passenger terminals, three cargo areas and four parallel runways.

Construction is being carried out in phases, with the recently announced phase three involving a new satellite terminal that is expected to be completed by 2019.

Terminals at Pudong International Airport

Terminal 1 (T1) at Pudong International Airport has a capacity of 20 million passengers and covers an area of 280,000m². It features 28 gates, 204 check-in counters and 13 luggage conveying belts. The terminal was designed to resemble Kansai International Airport's terminal with its exterior built to resemble waves.

Terminal 2 (T2) was constructed as part of phase two and opened in March 2008. It is capable of handling an additional influx of 40 million passengers a year and 4.2Mt of cargo per annum. Designed in the shape of a seagull, T2 is larger than T1 and used by Air China, Shanghai Airlines and other Star Alliance members.

Satellite terminal concourse at Pudong International Airport

The latest expansion at Pudong International Airport involves construction of the world's biggest satellite terminal concourse, as well as tarmacking of the T1 and T2 linking taxiway, 16 overnight parking spaces for planes and ten taxiway bridges. Work started on the new satellite terminal concourse on 29 December 2015.

The concourse is being built with a CNY20.6bn ($3bn) investment and upon completion will increase the airport's capacity to 80 million passengers and 4.26Mt of cargo a year. With 83 boarding bridges and 120 new aprons, the satellite terminal will be able to manage the growing air traffic and will serve as a hub of airline operations.

The H-shaped terminal will comprise two sections S1 and S2 covering a combined area of 622,000m². These two sections will be connected to T1 and T2 through an underground subway.

Facilities at the satellite terminal

The new satellite terminal will serve as an extension of the existing two terminals and function as an integrated transit centre. It will offer a multitude of services, including domestic and international transit, departure and arrival waiting lounge.

T1 and T2 will be connected to the satellite terminal using a people mover system. S1 and T1 will provide services to East Airlines and the SkyTeam Alliance, and will have a combined capacity of 36.8m passengers.

"S2 and Terminal 2 will have a capacity of 43.2 million passengers."

S2 and T2 will serve China Southern Airlines, Air China, the Star Alliance and other airlines, and will have a capacity of 43.2 million passengers.

Other facilities at the satellite terminal will include two underground tunnels, a luggage service, metro system, energy centre and near-gate parking system for 61 vehicles. Passengers arriving at the existing terminal will be able to reach the new facility within a few minutes by taking the new subway train.

Green energy features such as natural ventilation, open lighting and rainwater storage will also be part of the new terminal design.

Contractors involved

American architect Corgan was selected to design the new satellite terminal in association with their Chinese partner IPPR.

Otis Elevator was contracted to provide escalators and moving walkways for the new satellite terminal being built as a part of the Pudong International Airport expansion