Shanghai: Hongqiao or Pudong? Choosing the Right Airport and Arranging the Transfer

City Guide2026-10-24·All articles

Shanghai’s two airports sit on opposite sides of the city — and the 50-kilometre gap between them can decide whether an itinerary works.

Airport overview

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA)

The city’s older airport, about 13 km west of People’s Square, with two runways; T2 (opened 2010) handles domestic trunk routes and T1 the international and regional flights. It shares one complex with Hongqiao Railway Station — air-rail connections cost you almost nothing. Best for Jing’an, Hongqiao Business District and fast-train onward travel.

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

Opened 1999 on the east coast (T2 in 2008, satellite halls S1/S2 in 2019), about 45 km east of the center. Shanghai’s intercontinental gateway with 300-plus global destinations; most international long-haul flights land here. Best for Lujiazui, Zhangjiang and Disney-side itineraries.

Official site (one group runs both airports): www.shanghaiairport.com

Terminals and airlines

Airport / terminal	Main carriers (late 2026)
Pudong Airport (PVG) T1 + S1	China Eastern group (China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines) and its codeshares
Pudong Airport (PVG) T2 + S2	Air China, China Southern, Hainan, Juneyao, Spring, Cathay, Lufthansa, British Airways and most other international carriers
Hongqiao Airport (SHA) T1	International and regional flights
Hongqiao Airport (SHA) T2	Domestic trunk routes (China Eastern, Juneyao, Spring, Air China, China Southern and others)

Both satellite halls funnel arrivals back through their parent terminal’s area, so Pudong effectively has two pickup zones, not four. Assignments shift by season — confirm against the ticket.

Local notes: how to choose

Hongqiao (SHA) is 15–20 km west of the centre: best for Jing’an, Hongqiao Business District and connections to Hongqiao Railway Station.
Pudong (PVG) is on the east coast, 45–50 km from Lujiazui: most international long-haul flights land here.
If a guest can choose the flight, choose the airport by the destination, not by the airline.

Realistic drive times

Route	Distance	Off-peak	Rush hours*
Pudong Airport → Lujiazui	~45 km	50–60 min	60–80 min
Pudong Airport → Jing’an / Hongqiao	~55 km	60–75 min	80–110 min
Hongqiao Airport → Jing’an	~15 km	25–35 min	40–50 min

* Weekday 07:00–09:30 and 16:30–19:30; the Yan’an Elevated and Yingbin Expressway are the usual choke points.

What a corporate transfer includes

Flight tracked actively; the driver waits to the real landing time, with no waiting limit.
Name board inside the arrivals hall; luggage assistance as standard.
One booking can chain PVG pickup, city days and a SHA departure — one agreement, one bilingual report.
7×24 bilingual human support before, during and after every trip.