PASSENGERS on China Eastern and Shanghai Airlines flights out of Pudong International Airport’s Terminal 1 will from Sunday have to check-in earlier than normal.

　　Check-in desks will close 40 minutes before departure — up from 30 minutes — for domestic flights, and 50 minutes prior to takeoff — up from 45 minutes — for international flights, the companies said yesterday.

　　“The earlier closures are necessary because of the increased passenger traffic at Pudong’s T1 and to allow more time for security checks,” a China Eastern employee told Shanghai Daily.

　　Arrangements at Pudong’s Terminal 2 and Hongqiao International Airport will remain unchanged, they said.

　　The Shanghai Airport Authority in August introduced “enhanced” security checks, which include closer scrutiny of hand luggage and more passengers being ordered to remove their shoes.

　　Shanghai Daily is unaware of any other airlines changing their check-in times.