China plans 45 new airports

The Chinese government intends to invest US$230bn into building at least 45 airports in the country in an effort to link poorer areas in the west with wealthier cities in the east.

Civil Aviation Authority of China administrator Li Jiaxiang told news agency MacroPress that farming communities in areas near airports became more prosperous as fresh produce could more easily be transported to major cities.

While around 130 of China’s 175 existing airports lost money last year Mr Jiaxiang said the central government would absorb the losses to help boost economic growth across the country.