As part of the next five-year development plan for the aviation industry, China aims to have over 270 civil airports by 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) official said during a press conference reported by Chinese state media on January 7, 2021.
The Director-general of the Department of Development Planning at the CAAC, Han Jun, said that the 270 civil airports will increase passenger traffic and boost cargo activities, resulting in 930 million travelers flying and 9.5 million tons of freight delivered annually.
According to the CAAC, China had 241 certified civil airports at the end of 2020. During that year, 114 airport projects were either started or continued.
The total number of airports at the end of 2020 was 58 more than China had just eight years earlier, in 2012. That is equivalent to around seven new airports being opened each year.