SHANGHAI will upgrade capacity and facilities at Pudong airport to handle more Airbus A380 flights after two European airlines said they will fly the world's biggest jumbo jet to the city from September.

Pudong International Airport will have boarding gates renovated and more bridges built at its two terminals to handle the A380, the Shanghai Airport Authority said yesterday.

"The Pudong airport will have full capacity to serve the A380s beginning from this autumn," an official with the authority said.

Hongqiao airport will also be renovated because it serves as the backup airport for the A380, which can seat 853 passengers in an all-economy class setting, during bad weather.

Air France and Lufthansa unveiled plans over the weekend to fly the A380 to Shanghai from September.

"Serving Shanghai by Airbus A380 is a perfect example of our aim to expand in growth markets," said Alexandre de Juniac, chairman and CEO of Air France.

The airline's A380 will land at Pudong airport on September 2.