China will invest 52 billion yuan (US$6.67 billion) in airport
construction in its western regions from 2006 to 2010, said sources
with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC)
on Monday.
Six airports will be relocated and 31 will be expanded during
the five years. Twelve airports were built and expanded in 2006 and
17 are under construction.
Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will increase
the number of its airports from the current 16 to 20 in 2010,
according to the CAAC's five-year plan for airport
construction.
Meanwhile, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which
is also included in the country's West Development Strategy, will
have 12 airports in 2010 and 18 in 2020.
The CAAC also plans to give subsidies to small airports in the
western regions and some of the scheduled flights there.
In December 2006, the CAAC and the local governments in
northwest China paid a cash subsidy of 10 million yuan to airline
companies that run feeder lines there.
The western regions currently have 54 civilian airports, 38
percent of the country's total.
(Xinhua News Agency March 6, 2007)