Air travelers could enjoy largely improved flight transit efficiency and more convenient traffic services at Pudong International Airport as Terminal Two opens tomorrow together with other facilities under the airport's expansion project.

With the new facilities opening for service, the airport will be able to handle an annual passenger flow more than double the current capacity as it prepares for the World Expo Shanghai 2010 as well as the Beijing Olympic Games, Shanghai Airport Authority officials said yesterday.

Local authorities started construction to expand the Pudong airport in December 2005 after the single terminal tower and supporting facilities were deemed insufficient to serve the rapidly growing passenger numbers.

Planners have taken into account traffic peaks expected for the Olympic Games as well as the 2010 World Expo.

The Airport Authority officials said the World Expo would bring about 15 million extra visitors who would arrive by air.

By 2010, the annual passenger turnover capacity of Pudong airport would have improved to more than 60 million people, with the two terminal towers being connected by the integrated traffic center.

A new terminal building would also be completed at Hongqiao Airport before 2010 to ensure that its annual passenger capacity could improve to 30 million people, from the current number of 20 million, officials said yesterday.

The third runway, the west cargo zone and the integrated traffic center facilities would launch operations together with the new terminal building at Pudong airport tomorrow.

The authority also plans to build a third terminal building and two "satellite halls."

(Shanghai Daily March 25, 2008)