China prepares for increased traffic in Shanghai due to World Expo Shanghai
China Air Traffic Management Bureau released a Traffic Organisation Draft on 24-Mar-2010, as part of efforts to "keep air traffic smooth and reduce flight delays" over the 184-day World Expo in Shanghai (Shanghai Daily, 25-Mar-2010). The Bureau added that it would not implement extreme air control measures, such as prohibitions on navigation during the Expo. Shanghai is expecting more than 2,000 daily aircraft movements at Shanghai Hongqiao and Pudong International Airports over the Expo, with as many as 25% of the 70 million visitors expected to arrive by air (equating to approximately 15 million air passengers). Meanwhile, approximately 90% of the Expo's exhibition items are also expected to arrive via air. During the event, 43 flights will take off or land per hour during peak times at Hongqiao airport, a 30% increase from current levels, with 65 hourly services at Shanghai Pudong, a 20% increase.