As part of the next five-year development plan for the aviation industry, China aims to have more than 270 civilian airports by 2025. The statement was made by the official of the Chinese Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC) during a press conference took place on January 7, 2022.
CAAC Development Planning Director General Han Jun said the 270 civilian airports will increase passenger traffic and boost cargo operations. The target is 930 million passengers and 9.5 million tons of cargo annually.
According to the CAAC, China had 241 certified civilian airports at the end of 2020. In that year, 114 airport projects were under construction or under construction.
China's plan to have 270 airports by the end of 2025 is ambitious, but not impossible. In the period 2012-2020, China managed to build 58 new airports, which means that the rate was 7 airports per year.