Library cleared for take-off

The former terminal building of Longhua Airport on Longhua Road W. in Xuhui District has been cleared to become part of the new West Bund Library after an agreement was reached with two companies which had been reluctant to leave. 

Longhua Airport started operation as a civil airport in 1929 and was once the largest international airport in East Asia. The four-story terminal was built in 1946.

When the airport ceased civil aviation services in 1966, the building was rented to businesses.

In 2008 and 2009, the airport rented the building to Shaoxing Hotel and Fulinmen Saunas, with contracts due to end in August and October 2017.

But both refused to leave even after the airport sued and won in court. 

Cai Yonggang, a judge in Xuhui District, found that the building had become the dormitory of the two companies. Fulinmen even rented some rooms to two delivery companies.

Both the hotel and sauna asked for compensation of over a million yuan (US$148,500) as redundancy pay for their workers, but Cai found most of the claims by the two companies lacked legal proof.

Cai repeatedly told the companies of the consequences if they refused to leave.

Cai also had talks with the airport.

Finally, on Monday, the two companies were cleared from the terminal building. Fulinmen got "appropriate" compensation.

The new library will cover a total of 9,747 square meters, 7,747 of which will be modified from the former terminal building.