The second runway of the Shanghai Pudong airport has passed the test Friday, and is ready for operation, said an official with the airport.

The new runway, 2,260 meters east to the present runway, 3,800 meters long and 60 meters wide, is built to accommodate the Airbus A380 super jumbo, the world's largest commercial jet.

The runway is also equipped with a sophisticated blind landing system that will allow planes to land even in heavy fog.

Operation of the new runway will relieve congestion because of soaring flight traffic in this commercial hub of China.

Opened in 1999, Pudong's present runway is operating at capacity, handling nearly 500 flights per day carrying more than 35 million passengers last year.

 (People's Daily Online March 13, 2005)