Shanghai's two airports handled a record 51.57 million passengers last year, an 11.8 percent increase over 2006.

The Pudong International and Hongqiao airports offered services to 440,809 planes in total in 2007, up 7.61 percent. Pudong handled 58 percent, or 253,671 takeoffs and landings, while Hongqiao accommodated 42 percent, or 187,138 takeoffs and landings, according to a Shanghai Airport Authority source.

Pudong was the only airport in the world to provide a dual presence for courier companies UPS and DHL. It ranked fifth globally for cargo and mail handling volume in the first three quarters of 2007, said the source.

Currently, 71 domestic and overseas air companies have been operating regular air routes to Shanghai, linking the Chinese financial and commercial hub with 179 cities worldwide.