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Brief on Aviation Sector
Since 1990s，China Airport construction has been maintaining a rapid growth. There are 70 airports newly built or removed. Over 80 airports are upgraded or expanded.
As part of the comprehensive transport system in China, civil aviation turnover of passenger traffic accounted for 13.5% (1.6% in 1978).
In 2009, the airports in China provided services for over 120 airlines, with 486.06 million passenger/times (increased by 19.79% over 2008), 9.456million tons of cargo and mail (increased by 7.04%), and 4.841 million (increased by 14.52%) for aircraft take-off and landing.
By the end of 2009, there were 166 commercial (certificated) airports in mainland China (exclusive Hong Kong and Macao), 165 provide regular flights connecting 163 cities. The 33 of these airports can accommodate B747 aircraft.
The 6 newly added ones in 2009 include Daqing (Heilongjiang Province), Yichun (Heilongjiang Province), Jixi (Heilongjiang Province), Tengchong (Yunnan Province), Foshan (Guangdong Province), Yushu (Qinghai Province). The total areas for new terminals are 600,000sqm. In addition, there are 71 airports with general aviation certificate, and 319 airports could accommodate temporary take-off/landing for general aviation.
There are 14 airports with annual passenger throughput of over 10 million person-times, 4 more than 2008.
In 2009, Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) accommodated 65.37 million passengers (person- times), ranking No.3 in the world. Shanghai Pudong Airport is in 3rd place, for cargo throughput of 2.54 million tons.
It is expected that 8 more new airports will be added to the total number in 2010. Targets for 2010 include 49.3 bn ton-km for transportation turnover, 260 million for passenger traffic volume, 4.98 million tons for cargo & post volume, increasing by 15.5%, 13% and 12% respectively over 2009, with total investment on fixed assets of RMB 90 bn yuan.
According to “China Civil Airport Layout Plan”, there will be over 70 new airports to be built in the next 10 years. Total numbers for airports in China, by 2015, will be 220 and 270 by 2020 (including 2 more global/international air hubs) and 300 for 2030 (including 3 more global/international air hubs).
Opportunities in Aviation Sector
Despite the Opening Up of the Chinese Economy, China is still in a transitional period from a state planning economy to a market economy. The Chinese government still plays key role in the Chinese airport sector, and so the UK government, and UKTI in particular, haa crucial role to play in fostering closer links between the airport sectors of both countries and identifying business opportunities and helping them come to fruition.
All projects over USD30 million, whether they are airports or any kind of infrastructure projects, central approval from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) is required. Without NDRC approval,projects cannot go ahead. Although the NDRC is influential in the process of approval, suppoof the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) is also crucial. The Planning, Development and Finance Department of the CAAC are responsible for drawing up development programmes, and working on annual development plans for air routes. The Airport Department of the CAAC is responsiblefor drawing up regulations on airport construction, operational safety, and the examination and approval of proposed newly built airports
As a result of the State Council's institutional restructuring in March 2008, to integrate the functions of the former Ministry of Communications, CAAC was combined with The Ministry of Transport (MOT).
Airports, as the key infrastructure for air transport and citiesare an important part of thcomplete transport system. Through dozens ofconstruction and development, China has shaped a preliminary airport structure. It consists of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou as hubs/centres, other capital or major city airports as core airports (including Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, Xi’an, Urumqi, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Shenyang, Harbin and Dalian), and various main and regional airports. They play an important role in the sustainable development of China air transport and a complete transport system.
During 2009-2010, China will invest RMB 300 bn yuan or more on airport construction. On the base of completion of 140 airport projects for the 11th Five Year Plan, some projects for 12th Five Year Plan will commence ahead of schedule.
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