97 new airports to open in 12 yrs

A second international airport in Beijing, construction of which will begin before 2010, is just one of 97 to be built in China before 2020, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) said in its latest airport development plan.

According to the plan, which covers the years up to 2020, the number of airports nationwide will increase to 192 by 2010, and to 244 by 2020. At the end of 2006, there were 147, including 45 used for both civilian and military purposes.

This means 82 in every 100 people - who contribute 96 percent of the country's gross domestic product (GDP) - will live within 100 km, or 90 minutes' drive, from an airport by 2020.