The newly built south entrance.

Travelers at Pudong International Airport will have a smoother trip in future and can enjoy free wireless Internet services and cheaper food as Terminal 2 and its supporting facilities open for business today.

Terminal 2 offers passenger transit halls covering 4,000 square meters with 40 transit service counters designed to improve transit efficiency. The new terminal will offer more passenger-friendly services as well, airport officials said yesterday.

The new traffic center connecting the two terminals also opens today. It offers access to the airport shuttle services, long-distance buses, the Maglev station, taxis and parking.

Automatic walkways connect the two terminal buildings. Passengers can get to any transport mode to leave the airport in only five to 10 minutes after leaving the terminal halls.

The new dining and shopping areas inside Terminal 2 and in part of the traffic center cover nearly 20,000 square meters.

More good news for the travelers is that Terminal 2 has more diversified dining inside, including several chain food outlets and brand-name restaurants.

The airport authority has promised that the "brand" restaurants and chain eateries will offer food at "the same price" as their counterpart operations downtown.

"For example, you can have a bowl of noodles at Cang Lang Ting here for only eight yuan (US$1.1) - the same price as the downtown outlets," said Jia Ruijun, an official with the Shanghai Airport Authority.

Free wireless Internet access is offered across the passenger halls for both international and domestic flights inside Terminal 2.

On the sides of the waiting halls, there are drinking water fountains every 70 meters to ensure a 24-hour supply of hot and cold water - with disposable cups as well.

There are also 46 barrier-free elevators to help the blind reach the check-in desks directly in Terminal 2 while Braille signs are provided at all drinking water machines and in the toilets.

Each of the waiting halls for domestic and international flights has a children's entertainment corner.

Elderly people aged above 70 and pregnant travelers can book VIP services on the hotline to ensure priority at check-in.

Travelers are reminded to check beforehand to discover which terminal building they need. Free shuttle buses run between the two terminals every 10 minutes.

The first batch of 15 airlines will move to Terminal 2 today.

The Southern Entrance Road is also scheduled to open for traffic early this morning.

(Shanghai Daily March 26, 2008)