Delta takes off from new satellite terminal
An A330-900neo operating Delta Air Lines' flight DL588 from Shanghai to Seattle seen at Pudong's S1 terminal on Friday
Delta Air Lines has become one of the first foreign carriers to begin operating at Pudong International Airport's new satellite terminal.
The world's largest airline by revenue celebrated at the S1 terminal on Friday to mark its official shift from T1, a move said to improve on-time rates and streamline transfer procedures.
The airline's passengers can also board all its flights from the terminal building directly, rather than take shuttle buses to board on the tarmac.
Delta's passengers can now rely on a more convenient and seamless travel experience and connections, said Wong Hong, Delta's China and Singapore president.
About 20 percent of Delta's overseas passengers transfer at Pudong to domestic and other international flights.
Since S1 and T1 now mainly serve China Eastern, a strategic partner of Delta, and other SkyTeam Alliance airlines, it makes transfers more efficient.
A central transfer hall covering 8,000 square meters has been built in the S1 terminal where passengers can transfer between domestic and international flights.
Delta now operates four daily services from Pudong to Atlanta, Los Angles, Seattle and Detroit.
Passengers can seamlessly connect to more than 40 cities across China and other Asian destinations with more than 1,350 code-sharing flights per week with China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines, said Wong. Delta also shares China Eastern's newly launched VIP lounges at the S1 terminal.
Delta Air Lines officials and staff pose for a photograph in Pudong's S1 terminal to celebrate the carrier's shift from T1 on Friday.
A flight attendant with Delta Air Lines pictured at the S1 terminal of Pudong International Airport.
Gateway to world
"Our service in Shanghai is a gateway to destinations all over the world," he said. A packed and brand-new Airbus A330-900neo (flight DL588) from Shanghai to Seattle set off from the S1 terminal on Friday morning to mark the official opening of Delta's operations at the terminal.
Delta is replacing its fleet with the new A330-900neo, A350 and refitted Boeing 777s by early December to operate the daily routes between Shanghai and US cities.
Shanghai Airport Authority opened the satellite terminal to the public in September. The H-shaped terminal building, the world's largest, covers 620,000 square meters and is about 700 meters from T1 and T2.
Passengers leaving from the new terminal check in at the older terminal buildings and then take a two-and-a-half-minute subway ride to the new facility.
Arriving passengers take the subway to T1 and T2. The trains run every five minutes.
With the new terminal open, Pudong is now able to handle 80 million passengers a year, 6 million more than before.
S1 and T1, mainly serving China Eastern, Shanghai Airlines and other SkyTeam Alliance airlines, can now handle 36.8 million passengers a year. S2 and T2 can handle 43.2 million passengers a year with China Southern, Air China, Star Alliance and Oneworld members.
An interior view of Delta's brand-new A330-900neo aircraft
Delta's brand-new A330-900neo aircraft ready for passengers
