This Access Asia report on the development of the airports in China deals with ongoing developments in new airports to serve the increasing volume of air travel in China. The report covers all the main airport redevelopment projects.
China’s airport system was started largely under the rule of Chairman Mao. During this closed period in China’s history travellers where few and far between and mostly travelling on political or business permits. With the new openness and policies of reform under Deng Xiaoping in the late 1970s China began to develop its airports. Initially all airports were under the control of the armed forces though now most have been handed over to non-military enterprises with the ability to seek financing both internally and abroad. China is rapidly building new airports and upgrading those deemed to be outdated. As part of this upgrading process air traffic control facilities are being upgraded from procedure control to radar-based air traffic control systems to help improve safety and on-time performance. Since 1990, China has built 25 airports in cities including Shenzhen, Wuhan, Fuzhou and Guilin. An additional 48 have been upgraded, including those in Kunming, Urumqi, Lhasa and Dalian. China has not been slow to invest in airports – US$12.2 billion has been invested in airport construction and upgrading since 1980. Additionally, aircraft maintenance facilities are being upgraded in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Chengdu to deal with the rise in airliner throughput. The Chinese government’s Ninth Five-Year Plan listed 41 airport development projects. With the 2000 emphasis on development the western regions of China this list has been increased.