China is rapidly building an extensive and interconnected air transportation network.
From Harbin in the northeast to Altay in the west, the tourism industry is booming across the country, and airports have become a key symbol of a city's level of "internationalization." Provinces and cities are not only fiercely competing in the cultural and tourism sectors but are also racing to become leaders in airport construction.
More and more small cities are entering the "airport era," with some provinces already achieving "every city with an airport." In 2023 alone, newly opened airports included Xiangxi Border Town Airport in Hunan, Hongqiqu Airport in Anyang, Henan, Langzhong Ancient City Airport in Sichuan, Zhirun Airport in Shuozhou, Shanxi, and Purang Airport in Ngari, Tibet. More airports are expected to open in 2024.
According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China's (CAAC) civil aviation development plan, by 2025, the number of civilian airports in China will increase from 241 in 2021 to 270. By the end of 2023, China already had 259 civilian airports, meaning 11 more airports will need to be added in the coming year.
Xinjiang and Sichuan Lead in Airport Construction
In the wave of airport construction, Xinjiang and Sichuan have emerged as leaders. According to the government's plan, Xinjiang will have 37 civilian airports by 2025, accounting for nearly one-seventh of the national total. With its vast and sparsely populated land, Xinjiang relies heavily on air travel. The distance from Altay to Kashgar is roughly equivalent to the distance from Beijing to Kunming, making air transportation essential. In 2024, Xinjiang will add two more airports to further meet long-distance travel needs.
Sichuan Province is also accelerating airport construction, building one new airport each year on average in recent years. By 2025, the province plans to have 22 civilian airports, and by 2035, that number will rise to 28, achieving the goal of "every city with an airport." The province's complex geography and rich tourism resources are driving the rapid pace of airport development to enhance connectivity with the outside world.
According to statistics, Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Sichuan lead the country in the number of airports, with 27, 19, and 17 airports, respectively. In terms of airport density, Inner Mongolia and Guizhou have already achieved "every city with an airport." In contrast, provinces like Guangdong and Henan still have room for improvement in airport construction.
Major Cities Expand with Dual Airports
As China’s cities grow in importance, large cities are expanding their existing airports and developing "dual-airport" systems. For example, Guangzhou is set to begin construction on the "Pearl River Delta Hub (Guangzhou New) Airport," which will make it the fourth Chinese city, after Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, to operate under a dual-airport system. In 2023, Guangzhou Baiyun Airport had a passenger throughput of 63.16 million, ranking first nationwide, but Guangdong Province still only has nine civilian airports, far fewer than its economic scale would suggest.
At the same time, Suzhou, often regarded as the strongest prefecture-level city, still lacks its own major airport, despite Jiangsu Province already having nine civilian airports. Suzhou has been pushing for airport construction for years, and although the airport is not yet a reality, Suzhou has already secured its own terminal code, SZO, paving the way for future development.
The Economic Considerations Behind Airport Construction
The push to build more airports is driven by both travel demand and strategic considerations to stimulate regional economic development. As China’s passenger traffic increases year by year, the demand for airport infrastructure is becoming increasingly urgent. According to CAAC data, China’s total passenger traffic in 2023 reached 620 million, up 146% from the previous year. In the first half of 2024 alone, China’s civil aviation passenger traffic reached 350 million, and the annual total is expected to hit a new record.
Airport construction not only meets the demand for air travel but also plays a vital role in enhancing a city’s competitiveness. For example, in the western regions, new airports aim to improve external connectivity and stimulate local economic growth. Meanwhile, provinces in central and eastern China hope that building new airports will invigorate their economies by boosting foreign trade and developing tourism resources.
The layout of China’s new airports also takes long-term regional development into account. Some airport projects, such as Hohhot Chinggis Khaan International Airport and Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport, are high-level 4F airports, but many others are 4C regional airports, designed to integrate remote areas into the national transportation network and close the gap with more economically developed regions.
As new airports open across the country, more cities will enter the "airport era." At the same time, existing airports are undergoing renovations and expansions, with Guangzhou, Urumqi, Shanghai, and Kunming leading the way as major international aviation hubs, followed by over ten regional hub airports.
With China approaching its goal of 270 airports by 2025, airport construction has become a key tool for promoting economic development and enhancing the competitiveness of cities. More cities are opening their doors to the world through airport construction or expansion, welcoming new opportunities for growth.