Shanghai’s airports are doing roaring business despite the COVID-19 pandemic, as it set a record volume of 4.36 million tonnes last year.

Total air cargo volume from the two Shanghai airports, Pudong (PVG) and Hongqiao (SHA), was up 8.47 percent from the previous year with China’s main air cargo hub, the Shanghai Pudong International Airport, accounting for 93.7 percent of the total volume that passed through Shanghai last year.

Despite the pandemic, Pudong’s air cargo terminal joined China Eastern Airlines to provide air logistics solutions for airlines, multinationals and leading domestic businesses, including high-value cargo exports such as electronics products, components and medicines, particularly COVID-19 vaccines.

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The previous record of 4.23 million tonnes that passed through the airport was recorded back in 2017. The airport authority said 42 domestic and foreign airlines carried out passenger-to-cargo transport’ business at Pudong last year, with over 100 such flights on average departing from and landing at Pudong Airport daily.

Shanghai Pudong Int’l Airport Cargo Terminal, or PACTL, is the biggest cargo handler at the airport. It operates three cargo terminals at PVG and recently launched a new terminal at SHA.