The construction of facilities for business airplanes in Shanghai Hongqiao Airport and Shanghai Pudong Airport will grow thanks to the rapid increase in the number of business airplanes landing and taking off, said Li Derun, president of the Shanghai Airport Authority, at the 2013 China Business Aviation Symposium.

The annual growth rate of business airplanes landing and taking off in airports in Shanghai reached 14.5 percent from 2010 to 2012, accounting for one-third of the total number in China.

It is estimated that the annual growth rate will stay at more than 10 percent in the following several years. Shanghai Hongqiao Airport is the first choice for business aviation in China due to the rapid growth in operation scale of business airplanes.

Currently, the number of the business airplanes amongst the three business aviation companies based in Shanghai-the business aviation division of China Eastern Airlines, Deer Jet of Hainan Airlines and Star Jet-is increasing. However, the increase can't meet growing demands because of limits in flight time.

To solve the problem, Li said that the airports in Shanghai would continue to optimize construction of facilities for business airplanes during the 12th Five-Year Plan. Flight time and land resources would also be taken into consideration. The planned area of renovation for the eastern part of Shanghai Hongqiao Airport will reach 4.2 square kilometers; it will focus on the business aviation industry chain.

At present, a special terminal for business airplanes and a hangar has been built in Hongqiao Airport. A feasibility analysis for the construction of special terminals for business airplanes in Pudong Airport is being conducted. Two airplane stands will be reserved for business airplanes during the construction of two new airfield runways in Pudong Airport.