Shanghai has two airports, with the opening of the new Pudong International Airport (PIA) in October 1999 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic. But until further notice, all flights arrive and depart at the existing Hongqiao International Airport (HIA), a half-hour taxi ride (15 kilometers) from the heart of Shanghai.

The existing Hongqiao Airport, though slightly down at heel, actually works quite well and is easily accessed from the central business district where many airlines have offices. It handled an average of 2,567 flights a week last year, of which 28 per cent were international. In the first half of 1999, it handled 6.72 million passengers, up 2.07 percent from last year; and 341,400 tonnes of cargo, up 32.07 percent.

Twenty-one domestic airlines and 20 foreign airlines now use the airport. The two Shanghai-based airlines, China Eastern Airlines (CEA) and Shanghai Airlines (SAL), have substantial investments at Hongqiao and are probably reluctant to move overnight to Pudong.

The new airport, located in the city's new financial district across the Huangpu River from Shanghai's historic Bund, is not expected to be open for business until some time in 2000. Shanghai Airlines will carry out the inaugural flight on October 1, the scheduled completion date, to save face. Also, the Chinese aviation authorities haven't told any of the airlines how they will manage the "one city, two airports" system-a first for China and thus, perhaps, an invitation for confusion.

The PIA is expected to be one of the most advanced airports in the world, providing world-class services to airlines and passengers. PIA is ultimately planned to have four 4,000-meter runways and to handle 70-80 million passengers and 5 million tons of cargo every year.

A number of proposals have been put forward on how to keep both airports in operation.

Visions of having to commute between the two airlines to catch ongoing flights (or having your checked-in baggage lost between the two facilities) makes the scenario fairly hellish. Although a rail system is in the works, it now takes about an hour to commute between the two airports by bus or car. It won't get any faster until the new rail link is in operation in a couple of years.

Numerous proposals are currently flying about regarding the future of air travel in Shanghai. One would have Shanghai's biggest domestic airlines and existing international flights use the new airport while another has flights classified by their destinations-all flights from the northwest would use one airport while flights from the southeast would use the other.

Another idea is that flights to big cities will leave from one airport and ones to smaller cities from another. The potential for confusion is staggering. Unfortunately the officials in charge of the project have not given airlines (who must plan routes years in advance) any indication how the system will work.

Common sense dictates that the move to Pudong should be done slowly, gradually reducing traffic at Hongqiao and increasing at Pudong. One of the problems is the municipal authorities at Hongqiao are reluctant to see the loss of jobs and revenues which the two-airport system will entail. Officials hope the new airport will operate 50 flights daily by the end of 2000. But so far, of the foreign carriers, only Lufthansa and Japan Airlines are believed to be committed to using the new Pudong Airport-whenever it opens.

But for the time being the old airport at Hongqiao will continue to serve as the gateway to Shanghai. Despite first appearances, the HIA works well and is convenient. All of the signs are in English and Chinese as are the announcements. Listen carefully, however, as the broadcasting system has a 'tinny' sound and the announcer sounds like a robot.

The airport has separate arrival and departure buildings in one terminal and is spread out over two levels with the domestic arrivals and departures on the top floor and international arrivals and departures on the ground floor. Pay phones located about the building accept one-RMB coins. Some of the machines accept phone cards but only local ones.

A number of souvenir-type stores sell some merchandise, from garish scrolls to silk pajamas. It's a safer bet to buy maps and city guides in downtown hotels--shuttle buses head to all the major hotels and taxis are plentiful and cheap--about one-third the price of their cousins in Hong Kong.

The travel tax is 90 RMB (aboutUS$10) for international flights leaving Shanghai and 50 RMB (US$6) for domestic flights. There is a counter just inside the entrance to the departure terminal where this can be paid. The customs agents won't let you proceed without paying the departure tax.

There is no government services tax but hotels have a room tariff of 10 per cent for service charges plus 5 percent tax. The same applies for hotel restaurants.