Airplanes are parked at the Nantong Xingdong International Airport. [Photo/Nantong Daily]

Construction of a new airport in Nantong, Jiangsu province, is scheduled to begin in 2027, as announced by Mayor Zhang Tong at a press conference on June 29.

This major transportation infrastructure project is part of the national Yangtze River Delta Regional Integration Development Plan and represents a collaborative effort between Shanghai and Jiangsu (Nantong). Once completed, the airport will operate alongside Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports, becoming a vital component of Shanghai's international aviation hub.

The airport, located in Erjia town, Tongzhou district, will consist of two long-distance runways and a terminal designed to accommodate 40 million passengers and handle 500,000 metric tons of cargo and mail per year. The terminal design will feature 80 contact stands, with an additional 38 remote stands planned in the surrounding area.

Currently, Nantong is home to one airport — Nantong Xingdong International Airport. Last year, the airport set a new record by handling over 416 million passengers and about 70,630 tons of cargo and mail.