[photopress:air_shanghai_hongqiao_airport_b_1.jpg,full,alignright]China has drafted a long-term plan for development of air cargo, which will require the building of 97 new airports, consolidation of smaller airports and upgrading of certain key airports by the year 2020. The entire project will cost the government a massive investment of $64 billion.
According to the new Ministry of Transport, 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, which was formed on March 24, encompasses all the state entities related to road, sea and air traffic.
[photopress:air_hangzhou.jpg,full,alignleft]It evolved from the former Ministry of Communications and the General Administration of the Civil Aviation of China.
By the end of 2006, the Chinese mainland had 147 airports with 45 of them serving both military and civilian traffic.
The program calls for the forming of airport clusters according to their function – international, domestic or feeder airports – and integration of large, small and medium-sized airports. The illustrations are Shanghai Hongqiao at the top and Hangzhou seen from the air.
Source: China Daily