Faster service at Hongqiao airport for CIIE
A drill at the Hongqiao airport T1 terminal on Tuesday to serve CIIE delegations with specialized channels.
Faster boarding and arrival procedures have been launched at the Hongqiao airport to benefit delegations and exhibitors at the second China International Import Expo (CIIE) as well as other travelers.
The city’s airport, customs and immigration authorities jointly launched a drill on the swift clearance services at Hongqiao International Airport on Tuesday, where many CIIE participants are expected to come with both commercial and charter flights.
Delegations for the CIIE, which will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center between November 5 and 10, can enjoy preferential services in customs clearance, immigration inspection, security check and luggage claim through “green channels” at the airport.
Shanghai Customs has opened four special channels for CIIE participants at the T1 terminal and the business jet base at the Hongqiao airport. Two specialized windows have been opened for exhibition items and cargo for the CIIE, said Lu Yixing, a customs official at the airport.
“It will take about five minutes for a CIIE participant to finish customs clearance after picking up luggage at the airport, compared with 10 minutes on average,” Lu said.
Customs authorities have also launched trials to check passengers’ luggages beforehand to save time and make clearance more efficient.
The luggages go through machine security checks before being collected. Suitcases suspected of having illegal content will be attached with a customs mark and a special lock to receive further checks, while other passengers can leave the airport directly, Lu said.
The immigration inspection authority has opened eight specialized channels for CIIE participants and cargo. An elite team with 20 immigration officers has been organized to better serve CIIE delegates, said Hu Shiyun, deputy director of the immigration inspection station at the Hongqiao airport.
Specialized fast immigration channels for CIIE delegations at the Hongqiao airport
Special channels of Shanghai Customs for CIIE delegations
Four special channels have been opened at the Hongqiao business jet base as a large number of VIP delegates will come with business jets or charter flights, Hu said. It will take about three minutes for CIIE participants to finish inspections, he added.
Three security check channels have been opened at the airport for the CIIE, according to the Hongqiao airport operation headquarters. A baggage carousel at each terminal has also been set aside to serve CIIE participants, with volunteers to offer help.
These served delegations to the first CIIE in 2018 well, and better services will be offered this year, said Shi Xinyan, deputy director of the airport’s operation headquarters.
Other travelers will also benefit. Most of the toilets, for instance, have been upgraded with sanitary plastic wrappings on toilet seats, along with unisex and nursing rooms, Shi said.
A sterilization machine has been expanded to T2 from a test operation in T1 to sterilize each trolley beside the baggage carousels.
The flight punctuality rate at the Hongqiao airport is also expected to increase thanks to a cooperative scheme among airlines, air traffic controllers and the airport authority. The on-time rate at Hongqiao has increased to 94 percent this month from 92 percent in September, Lu said.
Paperless check-in and boarding procedures have covered all domestic flights at the Hongqiao airport.
Passengers can use QR codes sent by airlines to their mobile phones when they book a flight to complete check-in, customs clearance, immigration inspection, security checks and boarding.
Expedited security screening channels for CIIE visitors at the Hongqiao airport
A baggage carousel has been spared for CIIE delegations at the Hongqiao airport.
