With China planning to almost double its number of airports by 2020, Hongqiao Airport wasted no time in jumping into action.
This Sunday it will unveil an all-new look for the Terminal 1 Building A section of the airport, first to be observed by passengers traveling with China Eastern or Spring Airlines. Lucky, lucky you.
Hongqiao Airport was built in 1921, making the need for renovations quite impedent. Started in 2014, this was the airport's biggest overhaul ever, with 40 percent increase in floor space. The new terminal also features higher ceilings, more efficient customer inspections and security checks.
Passengers confused by the new design can rest assured staff and volunteers will be on hand to help them navigate the new digs, according to Spring Airlines president Wang Yu. In case this isn’t enough, the airline will refund tickets for passengers that missed their flights departing on Sunday from the new terminal. How about that?
Passengers traveling to the airport by car are also in for a treat as the new renovations are directly linked with the Yan’an Road highway to the T1 terminal. The new parking lot outside Building A also accommodates 1,250 vehicles.
With the opening of the new T1 terminal, reconstruction of Building B will also begin. The total renovation will be completed by mid-2018. Just in time to help China reach the expected 2.2 billion passengers to be handled by Chinese airports by 2025.
If only they'd thought to prep it for the 'future of travel' with some R2D2-like robots; perhaps Building B will get the better end of the stick.
[Image via Airchive.com]
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