Mar.11 - The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said on Saturday that the country will intensify airport construction in its western areas during the 11th five-year period, with a total investment of 52 billion yuan or 6.5 billion USD.

 

People's Daily reported that 37 new airports will be built up in the western part of China, while 6 will be moved and 31 enlarged. Investment in new airport construction will reach 9.6 billion yuan or 1.2 billion USD, higher than that of the east.

 

The airport construction plan was made last year by the CAAC and local governments in western China.

 

One of the new airports will be located in Ali in Tibet. With plans to be completed on October 1, 2010, it will be the highest elevation airport in the world. Roads in Ali can only be used from May to October due to the hostile climate.

 

New airports will also be built in western provinces and autonomous regions, including Qinghai, Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia.

 

There are currently 54 civil airports in western China, accounting for 38% of all airports in the country. However, airport density in the northwest is only one fifth that of the east. The demand for civil aviation in the west has continued increasing as the economy develops there.

 

To guarantee the smooth operation of the western airports and to meet the travel demands of local people, the CAAC will continue to provide funds to small-sized airports in western areas.