China plans to have 74 airports to bring the total number in the country to around 260 by 2020, a report by the People's Daily said quoting a release by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).
The country's civil aviation regulator noted that by 2020, the number of air passengers in China will grow to 720 million, representing China's most important transportation tool together with
railways and roads.
However, the CAAC noted that the country's aviation industry needs a more balanced structure and the airport planning is therefore putting more emphasis on short-distance transport.
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By 2020, six airport clusters encompassing China's northern part, northeast, central and southern part, southwestern area as well as northwest region will be completed, the CAAC report said,
adding that new airports for cargo transportation will be developed as well.
Of the 74 civil transport airports, 30 ones are currently under construction and 40 ones will be new. Upon completion, the total number would reach about 260.
The airports of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou will be further upgraded to international hubs to meet the development demands of the cities in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Yangtze River Delta
and Pearl River Delta, the report added.
Nol van Fenema
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