Shanghai plans a third airport, in Nantong, to open by 2035

What the plan says

Shanghai today has two airports: Pudong, its main international gateway, and Hongqiao, used mostly for domestic flights. The new strategic plan, issued jointly by the Shanghai government and the Civil Aviation Administration of China, moves the hub to “two places, three airports” by adding Nantong New Airport, to be completed by 2035.

Nantong is a city in neighbouring Jiangsu province, which is why the plan speaks of two places. The three airports are meant to run as one system rather than as separate airports.[1][2]

Who does what

Pudong stays the main platform, for both passengers and cargo and for the global route network. Hongqiao focuses on fast, convenient domestic flights and works closely with Pudong. Nantong New Airport is planned to take over functions that do not have to sit at the two main airports, mainly domestic passenger and cargo flights.[1][2]

The numbers

Pudong and Hongqiao handled 135 million passengers and 4.537 million tonnes of cargo and mail in 2025. The plan aims for 150 million passengers by 2030, when Pudong’s phase 4 expansion is due to be finished, and 200 million passengers and 5.4 million tonnes of cargo a year by 2035.[2][1]