Several Measures to Further Enhance the Capacity of Shanghai as an Aviation Logistics Hub

The following measures are hereby proposed to further enhance the capacity of Shanghai as an aviation logistics hub, to push forward the synergetic development of Shanghai as a global shipping center and a global trade center:

I. Promoting Hub Construction in a Scientific and Coordinated Way

1. Guided by the imperative to deepen high-quality development and aimed at comprehensively further elevating Shanghai's capacity as an aviation logistics hub, efforts shall be focused on addressing crucial weaknesses, consolidating competitive advantages, transforming growth drivers, and stimulating sustainable expansion. Priority shall be given to safeguard the development of key industries, enhance the role of market entities, and optimize trans-shipment capabilities. These coordinated efforts shall advance the construction of the airport-based national logistics hub while accelerating the establishment of a comprehensive gateway composite international aviation hub.

2. By 2025, the annual cargo and mail throughput of the Shanghai airports shall exceed 4.1 million tons, with the volume of air cargo transshipment business doubling that of 2019. The market share of domestic airlines in international air freight from Shanghai shall not be lower than 40%. The annual growth rate of cargo throughput for home-based airlines at Shanghai airports shall not be lower than 20%. The overall customs clearance time for imported goods by air shall be reduced to within 32 hours. By 2030, the business scale shall remain at the global forefront, with continuous expansion of air route networks, significant enhancement of transshipment functions, sustained improvement of the port clearance ecosystem, more prominent role of business entities, and accelerated progress in smart and green transformation. The comprehensive upgrade and transformation of “digital intelligence, global connectivity, and smooth supply chain” shall be fully realized

II. Accelerating the Improvement of the Hub Planning and Layout

3. In accordance with the dynamic evolution of the situation and tasks, the revision of the Strategic Plan for the Shanghai International Aviation Hub shall be initiated in a timely manner to further clarify and deepen the functional positioning of Shanghai's two airports. (Responsible entities: CAAC East China Regional Administration, Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, and Shanghai Airport Authority)

4. The revision of the overall planning of Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport shall be accelerated, and the layout planning of airport cargo terminals shall be perfected. The existing dispersed freight facilities at Pudong International Airport shall be integrated to expedite the formation of a layout of two zones in the east and west. (Responsible entities: CAAC East China Regional Administration, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, and Shanghai Airport Authority)

III. Accelerating Infrastructure Construction

5. The construction of the airport-based national logistics hub in Shanghai shall be promoted. The intelligent cargo terminal and centralized inspection center at Shanghai Pudong International Airport shall be completed and put into operation at an accelerated pace. The construction of the express package and cross-border e-commerce cargo center in the new east zone in Shanghai Pudong International Airport, as well as the Asia-Pacific one-stop aviation logistics center, shall be initiated without delay.  (Responsible entities: Shanghai Airport Authority, China Eastern Air Holding Company, Shanghai Customs, Pudong New Area People's Government, Shanghai Municipal Development & Reform Commission, and Lin-gang Special Area Administration)

6. The preliminary work for the fifth runway of Shanghai Pudong International Airport, including the signing of a military-civilian agreement and the adjustment of flight procedures, shall be accelerated to facilitate the early opening and use of the fifth runway. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Municipal Development & Reform Commission, CAAC East China Regional Administration, Shanghai Airport Authority, and CAAC East China Regional Air Traffic Management Bureau)

7. The comprehensive transportation planning for Shanghai's two airports and their surrounding areas shall be continuously improved. The construction of the external road projects in the airport regions, such as Zhou Deng Expressway, Cao Bao Expressway, and G15, shall be accelerated. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, and Pudong New Area People’s Government)

8. Domestic airlines shall be encouraged and supported to expand their cargo fleet scale and foreign airlines shall be attracted to increase their freight capacity in Shanghai so as to enhance the cargo handling capacity of Shanghai's two airports. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, Shanghai Municipal Development & Reform Commission, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (Shanghai Municipal Office for Port Services), CAAC East China Regional Administration, Shanghai Airport Authority, and the Home-based Airlines)

IV. Actively Fostering Diverse Market Entities

9. Domestic and international airlines, express delivery and logistics enterprises, and other market entities shall be supported to establish headquarters or distribution centers in Shanghai to develop air freight business, and construct freight handling facilities. Freight forwarding enterprises with international influence shall be attracted to settle in Shanghai and the service competitiveness of local freight forwarding enterprises shall be enhanced. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, Shanghai Municipal Development & Reform Commission, CAAC East China Regional Administration, Shanghai Customs, and Shanghai Airport Authority)

10. In accordance with the needs of industrial development, the layout and construction of forward warehouses and consolidation warehouses shall be carried out to improve the logistics system, including production, storage, and transportation. This will provide support for industries such as cold chain logistics, cross-border e-commerce, electronic chips, and biopharmaceuticals. Air logistics enterprises shall be supported to establish overseas cargo stations based in Shanghai. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Municipal Development & Reform Commission, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (Shanghai Municipal Office for Port Services), Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources, Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, Shanghai Airport Authority, and China Eastern Air Holding Company)

V. Vigorously Expanding Incremental Market Business

11. The development of an air-to-air transfer model characterized by convenient customs clearance, well-coordinated resources, and rapid efficiency shall be accelerated. The continuous improvement of transfer operation procedures and the enhancement of airport ground support capabilities shall be ensured. Airlines, both domestic and international, shall be encouraged to strengthen their cargo transfer functions, actively meet market demands, integrate resources, and continuously develop cargo transfer services to increase air cargo transfer volumes. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (Shanghai Municipal Office for Port Services), Shanghai Customs, CAAC East China Regional Administration, Shanghai Airport Authority, and China Eastern Air Holding Company)

12. Multimodal transport business shall be vigorously developed, and the integrated planning and construction of the Eastern Hub for air-rail connectivity shall be accelerated. The continuous expansion of air-rail intermodal transport services shall also be pushed forward. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, CAAC East China Regional Administration, China Railway Shanghai Group, Eastern Hub Group, Shanghai Airport Authority, China Eastern Air Holding Company, and Shanghai International Port Group)

VI. Strengthening Cargo Transportation Support

13. Collaboration among enterprises in air logistics, manufacturing, cross-border e-commerce, and other sectors shall be promoted. Continuous efforts shall be made to enhance the transportation support for high-value-added products, such as electronic chips and biopharmaceuticals, as well as for consumer goods in cross-border e-commerce. Attention shall also be paid to the new trends in the cross-border development of industrial e-commerce, with a focus on continuously optimizing the cargo transportation structure at Shanghai’s aviation port. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (Shanghai Municipal Office for Port Services), Shanghai Municipal Commission of Economy and Informatization, and Home-based Airlines)

14. Cooperation between air logistics and cross-border e-commerce enterprises shall be deepened. A dedicated service platform for cross-border e-commerce shall be established. Specialized air fleets for cross-border e-commerce (including self-purchased and leased cargo aircraft) shall be established, and exclusive air routes and flights for cross-border e-commerce shall be launched to meet the air transportation needs of cross-border e-commerce goods at Shanghai's port. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (Shanghai Municipal Office for Port Services), Shanghai State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, CAAC East China Regional Administration, and China Eastern Air Holding Company)

15. The pilot program for facilitating the transportation of cross-border e-commerce goods shall be further advanced, and a digital management platform for the convenient collection and transportation of cross-border e-commerce goods shall be constructed. The "Quality Products Going Global" initiative shall be promoted, and a series of activities integrating "cross-border e-commerce + industrial clusters" shall be organized. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (Shanghai Municipal Office for Port Services), Shanghai Airport Authority, and China Eastern Air Holding Company)

VII. Enhancing the Smart and Green Level of the Hub

16. The construction of the aviation logistics public information platform of the China (Shanghai) International Trade Single Window shall be accelerated, and the functions of the "AviPort" platform shall be continuously improved and enhanced. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (Shanghai Municipal Office for Port Services), Shanghai Airport Authority, and China Eastern Air Holding Company)

17. The smart transformation of cargo terminal facilities shall be accelerated, and the rate of electronic documentation for air cargo shall be continuously increased. Support shall be provided to airports, airlines, and other market entities for the construction of specialized infrastructure to support international transportation, cross-border e-commerce, fresh produce and cold chain logistics, lithium batteries, biopharmaceuticals, and other fields. The use of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), automated sorting systems, and other facilities and equipment shall be promoted. (Responsible entities: CAAC East China Regional Administration, Shanghai Airport Authority, and China Eastern Air Holding Company)

18. New technology research and application in the fields of air cargo security inspection, panoramic perception, and unmanned operations shall be enhanced. A batch of special vehicles within the premises of Shanghai's two airports shall be replaced with new energy alternatives. (Responsible entities: CAAC East China Regional Administration, Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, Shanghai Airport Authority, and China Eastern Air Holding Company)

VIII. Continuing to Ensure Aviation Resource Support

19. In response to the development needs of the air freight market, efforts shall be made to seek preferential treatment from the Civil Aviation Administration in terms of long-haul route allocation and scarce Category II route rights. The priority of base airlines in route access and allocation shall be enhanced, and airlines shall be supported in focusing on the construction of their main bases. A certain number of daytime cargo flight slots shall be increased to better match the needs of freight routes and cross-border e-commerce cargo export transportation. The flight approval process shall be optimized to facilitate airlines’ extra cargo flights and charter flights. (Responsible entities: CAAC East China Regional Administration, Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, Home-based Airlines, and Shanghai Airport Authority)

20. Home-based airlines are encouraged to deepen and extend their routes to Europe and America, optimize and strengthen their routes within Asia, and actively expand routes to countries and regions along the Belt and Road. The density of connections with key global supply chain cities shall thereby be further enhanced. (Responsible entities: CAAC East China Regional Administration, Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, Home-based Airlines, and Shanghai Airport Authority)

IX. Comprehensively Improving the Hub Operation Environment

21. Efforts shall be made to enhance the construction of a "smart customs" system, create an intelligent and interconnected big data platform, and develop a digital supervision system that meets the needs of new forms of business. Business reforms such as the electronic payment of import duties for cross-border e-commerce and the innovation and optimization of return processes shall be promoted. Innovations in customs supervision models for international transshipment goods between Shanghai's two airports shall be explored, the customs clearance and transshipment efficiency of air cargo shall be improved, and the overall customs clearance time for import and export goods at the airport shall be further reduced. (Responsible entities: Shanghai Customs, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (Shanghai Municipal Office for Port Services), and Shanghai Airport Authority)

22. The implementation of an air freight regulated agent system shall be explored, the construction of professional air forward warehouses with security inspection functions shall be accelerated, and pilot programs for the security of ground transportation of air cargo between airports and freight terminals shall be conducted. (Responsible entities: CAAC East China Regional Administration, Shanghai Municipal Transport Commission, Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce (Shanghai Municipal Office for Port Services), Shanghai Airport Authority, and China Eastern Air Holding Company)

Under the leadership of the Shanghai Municipal Leading Group for the Construction of an International Shipping Center, inter-departmental coordination and government-enterprise communication shall be strengthened, and supportive policies in finance, land use, and talent shall be enhanced so as to promote the aggregation and integration of resources for the construction of an air cargo hub. Tracking and evaluation shall be strengthened to ensure the implementation of the tasks related to the construction of the aviation logistics hub.