CHINA. Thursday 22 January was a red-letter day for Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport as the company hosted its annual Commercial Development Conference and a promotional meeting for the ambitious Hongqiao Airport Commercial Plaza Project.
The Moodie Davitt Report, represented by Chief China Representative Zhang Yimei, was the only travel retail media present at a prestigious event that brought together various stakeholders in a showcasing of Hongqiao Airport’s phased commercial development achievements.
The event also offered the opportunity to highlight progress on the airport-adjacent Hongqiao Airport Commercial Plaza project.
The occasion was graced by Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport Company Vice President Zhao Haibo and other leaders from the company. They were joined by representatives from key municipal and district departments, and over 200 representatives from brand owners and commercial institutions from across the country.
At the meeting, the airport company pledged to focus on three major development directions in the future:
· Strengthening passenger traffic to activate new commercial momentum.
· Maximise innovation to drive quality upgrades.
· Build a new ecosystem for commercial growth through deepening collaborative partnerships.
The core objective is to develop Hongqiao Airport Commercial and the Airport Commercial Plaza into high-quality commercial landmarks characterised by economic value, cultural connotations and social impact.
The unveiling of the Hongqiao Airport Commercial Plaza project also saw the launch of a global investment promotion. Located in Terminal 1, the project jointly leverages the hub status of ‘World Hongqiao’ and the advantages of a ‘dual TOD’ (Transit-Oriented Development) system (terminal and rail transit).
The latter directly connects the terminal and the subway network. It attracts high-density, high-quality hub passenger traffic, boasting outstanding location advantages and development potential.
The Hongqiao Airport Commercial Plaza has a total construction area of approximately 93,000sq m, including approximately 25,000sq m of Grade A office space in two towers and approximately 27,000sq m of commercial space, along with nearly 500 underground parking spaces.
Positioned as a ‘new travel experience, vibrant new fashion, and new gateway economy’ the project focuses on extending the functions of the airport and upgrading urban consumption. The commercial complex integrates high-end business, quality commerce and immersive experiences.
In terms of business layout, the project goes far beyond the traditional airport commercial model, focusing on the transformation to what the airport called ‘destination-oriented consumption’.
It prioritises the introduction of new business formats, such as immersive experiences, trendy retail, fashionable lifestyle services and distinctive dining offers.
Collectively, these attractions are designed to create new consumption scenarios targeting young and highly active consumers.
Leveraging its strategic location as the eastern gateway to Hongqiao, the project aims to build a crucial platform for brand display, cultural dissemination and ‘first-launch’ offers, promoting the clustering of ‘first stores, first shows and first launches at the airport’.
At the event it was revealed that several renowned brands, including China Duty Free Group, Shanghai Bank, T9 and Gaoxiao Comedy, have reached preliminary cooperation agreements with Hongqiao Airport, laying a solid foundation for the subsequent leasing, operation and business implementation of Hongqiao Airport Commercial Plaza.
Zhao Haibo said Shanghai Hongqiao Airport will achieve comprehensive breakthroughs in core businesses, hub capacity and service quality, laying a solid foundation for the development of its commercial sector.
In the future, Hongqiao’s commercial development will focus on strengthening the flow economy and activating new commercial momentum, she said.
The company will adhere to innovation-driven development, empowering new quality improvements, Zhao added.
“We will deepen collaborative alliance to jointly build a new development ecosystem. Together with all parties, we will develop Hongqiao Airport’s commercial and airport commercial plazas into high-quality landmarks that combine economic, cultural and social value,” she concluded.
Traffic flow projections provide strong support for Hongqiao Airport’s commercial development with passenger throughput exceeding 50 million for the first time in 2025.
The airport company commented, “As we stand at a new starting point for development, Hongqiao Airport will focus on high-quality commercial practices to continuously improve the quality of commercial consumption, injecting new vitality into Shanghai’s construction of a comprehensive gateway and multi-functional international aviation hub and international consumption city centre.” ✈
