A satellite terminal, believed to be the largest of its kind worldwide, will start operation at the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, as its third-phase expansion project starts on September 16, local authorities said Monday.

Located south of the airport's existing T1 and T2 terminals, the satellite terminal, covering an area of 622,000 square meters and whose construction is part of the third-phase expansion project, will provide departure, arrival and transfer services.

Passengers can travel between the main terminal and the satellite terminal by Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), with a one-way trip taking 2.5 minutes at the fastest speed.

The satellite terminal has 90 boarding bridges, reducing the use of ferry buses and greatly improving the travel experience of passengers, said Feng Xin, chairman of Shanghai Airport Authority. It is expected that fuel consumption of support vehicles at the airport will be reduced by 1,623 tonnes a year with the satellite terminal.

With four terminals, five cargo sections and six runways, the passenger throughput of the Pudong International Airport and Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai hit 118 million in 2018, ranking fourth in the world for three consecutive years, while the cargo throughput reaching 4.18 million tonnes, ranking the third for 11 consecutive years, according to statistics.

Shanghai plans to push forward the construction of world-class integrated transportation hubs in the city, said Xie Feng, director of the Shanghai Municipal Transportation Commission.

(Cover: Shanghai Pudong International Airport. /VCG Photo)