China to build 97 airports in next 12 years

Jan. 28 – Xinhua is reporting that China announced plans Saturday to build nearly 100 new airports by 2020 to cater for soaring demand.

The proposals will mean eight out of every ten residents will live within 100 kilometers of an airport within 12 years, the General Administration of Civil Aviation said. It put the cost of building the 97 new airports at US$61.6 billion.

Air traffic volume rose 16 percent to 185 million passengers in 2007, according to official figures. The General Administration of Civil Aviation predicts passenger traffic will grow by 11.4 percent a year between now and 2020, and freight traffic by 14 percent.

The number of airports serving more than 30 million passengers a year will rise from the curent three to 13, it said.

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