China to build 97 new airports by 2020

As many as 97 new airports are scheduled to be built over the next dozen years to bring the total number of such facilities in the country to 244 by 2020. The General Administration of Civil Aviation says existing capacities can serve just over 60 percent of the population.

As many as 97 new airports are scheduled to be  built over the next dozen years to bring the  total number of such facilities in the country  to 244 by 2020.

And that expansions are necessary in order to meet soaring demands in the future. Air travel in China has been boosted by rapid economic growth in recent years. Passenger volumes have been predicted to grow by 11.4 percent every year between now and 2020 with freight traffic also likely to increase by 14 percent annually.

But the Administration has also pointed out a drawback from planned expansions adding that the locations of these new airports will mean eight out of every ten residents having to live within 100 kilometers of an airport.