China has unveiled a draft long-term plan to develop its air cargo industry, including the building of 97 new airports.
According to local media, 97 feeder-line airports will be built across the country, the main air hubs will be upgraded, and airport clusters will be set up in the northern, eastern, central, southern, southwestern and northwestern parts of the country.
The project is expected to cost US$64bn.
The Ministry of Transport says airport clusters will be formed according to their function - international, domestic or feeder airports - and integration of large, medium and small-sized airports.
The ministry aims to balance development - improving coordination among airports and between trunk and feeder routes - and raising the capacity of medium-sized and large airports.
Under the plan for northern China, Beijing will get a second airport and the existing Capital International Airport will be upgraded into an international hub.
By Elizabeth Clifford-Marsh
