New Shanghai aviation base to open in 2019

The second phase of the business aviation base being built at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport will commence operation in 2019 offering ground support and business aircraft maintenance in a broader capacity.

"The second phase will be completed in 2018 and start operation the year after," said Lu Xun, deputy general manager of the Shanghai Hawker Pacific Business Aviation Service Center.

"Another hangar of the same size will be built to the south of the existing facility," Lu added.

In 2015, a total of 5,536 business flights departed from Shanghai International Airport; up 15.5 percent year-on-year, accounting for more than one-third of the nation's total.