Pudong International Airport will be "the best air hub in China" particularly in the provision of high-quality services to travelers, Shanghai Airport Authority pledged yesterday.

"We have set up a clear goal to make Pudong International Airport the air terminal that offers the best-quality services to passengers. We have already started carrying out a detailed work plan to achieve this goal," said Wu Nianzu, chairman and president of the SAA yesterday at the launch of a three-day forum for the global airport industry, co-hosted by SAA and Airport Council International.

"We are looking up to the high-standard airport management and services globally. The Hong Kong International Airport, for example, is a good role model to learn from," Wu said.

He added diversified training programs were already underway which aim to largely improve the airport crew's service quality.

"We are making efforts to help the airport crew understand that 'to provide services to the travelers' is the first priority in their job instead of managing the passenger flows," Wu said. A three-year expansion project for Pudong airport was completed last Wednesday.

Wu yesterday said this year's total passenger traffic by the two local airports, the other being Hongqiao Airport, would be about 56 million, a rise from the 52 million last year.

"Construction of the second terminal building and a new runway for Hongqiao Airport has also started," Wu said, adding the Hongqiao Airport's expansion would be completed before 2010 to help raise its annual passenger turnover to 30 million, from more than 20 million now.

Wu also said the local airports are aiming to grow its non-aviation-related operations. "We are keen on connecting with major providers of retail business to magnify the use of the airport resources," Wu said, as SAA aims for a 50-percent contribution from non-aviation-related business to airport operations in coming years, up from 30 percent.

(Shanghai Daily April 1, 2008)