In China, Shanghai is the only city that has two aviation ports: Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, with a total annual capacity of 80 million people. Services of the two airports rank the first class in the world. The airport halls are well-designed and clearly signed. The passport control and security check are quite efficient. Outside the airport, taxis and airport buses, working around the clock, are waiting for you.

Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport used to be the primary airport in Shanghai, but with the development of Shanghai Pudong District, the number of passengers went far beyond its handling capacity. Located near the city center, it was impossible for the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to further its expansion. On October 1, 1999, a new airport at the coast of the Pudong development zone to the east of the city—Shanghai Pudong International Airport—started its public operation, replacing Hongqiao as the biggest airport in Shanghai.

Nowadays, Pudong International Airport, situated about 30 kilometers from the city center, has become a major aviation hub in Asia, particularly in the East Asian region. The airport is the main hub for China Eastern Airlines and Shanghai Airlines, and a major international hub for Air China. It holds most of the international flights in Shanghai, including regional flights to Hong Kong and Macao. Statistically speaking, it handles more international passengers than Beijing Capital International Airport, which is currently the busiest Chinese airport. Its capacity is expected to increase from the current 60 million passengers annually to 80 million. Pudong International Airport is also a major hub for the handling of air freight, ranking the fifth busiest in the world.

On January 1, 2004, Shanghai Maglev Train started its public operation as the first of its kind to be used for commercial purpose. Starting from Longyang Road Station in Pudong on the Shanghai Metro Line 2 and ending at Pudong International Airport, the train only takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the whole journey. By 2020, the extension of the Metro Line 2 to Pudong International Airport, linking with Hongqiao Airport, is expected to be completed for the 2010 World Expo.