All scheduled international flights at Shanghai's Hongqiao Airport will be shifted to Pudong International Airport this year,Chen Liangyu,the new Mayor of Shanghai said today.

The shift will start on October 28,said Xia Keqiang,board director with the Shanghai Airport Group Co Ltd.

Shanghai is the only city in China with two airports and it is important for us to set different orientations for the two airports,Xia said.The Hongqiao Airport has been overloaded,and Pudong International Airport can act as an international hinge after completion of related networks,such as the maglev train and Lupu bridge,Xia said.

After October 28,Pudong International Airport will take the additional international flights and will continue to handle domestic flights which now use Pudong,Xia said.The Hongqiao Airport will act as a domestic airport and a reserve airport for emergencies on international flights,Xia added.

Shanghai will offer some preferential policies for the smooth transfer of the international flights.

( eastday.com March 7, 2002)