Pudong airport handles surge in cargo traffic
An increasing number of cargo planes are berthed at the Pudong International Airport.
Over 200 cargo flights from across the world have taken off and landed at the Pudong International Airport over recent weeks, with most of them transporting material to combat the coronavirus epidemic.
Amid this major increase in cargo flights, over 10,000 tons of COVID-19 prevention materials have been moved via the Pudong airport since the outbreak of the pandemic, the Shanghai Airport Authority said on Wednesday.
The airport authority has staggered flight schedules, allocated additional aircraft stands and improved efficiency to serve the cargo flights and their crews as well as ensure the transport of critical supplies.
Cargo flights usually take off and land after midnight to make way for the operation of passenger flights at the airport. Since passenger air travel has been curtailed to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the airport authority has made room in its daytime schedule for more frequent cargo flights.
Cargo flights are now temporarily allowed to take off and land at the airport between 10am and 10pm. The airport can handle three cargo planes per hour.
To serve military planes such as An-124 and IL-76 transporters, the airport along with air traffic controllers has enhanced the supervision of such planes. The data of aircraft types and their flight routes is all carefully studied beforehand.
When a military plane arrives, air traffic controllers guide other aircraft nearby to give way with radar guidance to prevent delays.
Fifty-eight cargo aircraft stands have been allocated at the Pudong airport. Regular cargo flights can berth at their fixed stands, while government charter flights or temporarily arranged cargo flights will be directed to the nearest available apron.
Many airlines are using their passenger aircraft for cargo flights under the strict control of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. These aircraft can stop at remote stands near the terminal buildings where they usually operate.
The airport has also opened a 12,000-square-meter warehouse near its west cargo area to avoid congestion among trucks hauling cargo from the aircraft.
The airport authority and Shanghai Customs have also been offering convenient clearance procedures for the cargo flights. Crew members on these flights will undergo strict quarantine measures and health management after landing at the airport.
Cargo is loaded onto a plane at the Pudong airport.
A plane with logistic giant UPS lands at the Pudong airport.
A worker moves cargo at the Pudong airport.
An airport worker transports freight for cargo flights at the Pudong airport.
A worker secures freight for cargo flights at the Pudong airport.
An airport staff moves air cargo at the Pudong airport.
