China has earmarked $64bn for the construction of 97 new airports to integrate the country's aviation transport links.
The long-term plan for development of air cargo will require the building of 97 new airports, consolidation of smaller airports and upgrading of certain key airports by the year 2020, according to local media.
Under the plan, 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 Ministry of Transport said airport clusters will be formed according to their function – international, domestic or feeder airports – and integration of large, small and medium-sized airports. The main goal is balanced development of airports with improved coordination among airports and between trunk and feeder routes, and increased capacity of medium-sized and large airports.
