China’s small airports to get government support
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Small airports in Chinaare expected to receive government subsidies after being reclassified as publicinfrastructure under a new regulation. According to a Xinhua report, theregulation stipulates that governments at all levels must take necessarymeasures to support airports from 1 July.
Chinahad 160 civil airports last year, and plans to have 244 by 2020. 103 of theseare considered small airports – those that serve less than 1 million passengersa year – and an estimated 91% of these are losing money, the report said. Intotal these small airport cater for just 6.4% of total passenger traffic.
According to Han Zhiliang, President of Inner Mongolia Civil Airports Group,small airports in his region spend at least CNY7 million a year on operatingcosts, but generate less than CNY2 million in revenue. The Group manages10 airports, nine of which are small, regional airports.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) began subsidising smallairports last year, but the amount is limited. A number of airports whichdid not secure local government funding – which has not been mandatory untilnow – have been closed. The new funding initiative is expected to help theseloss-making airports to stay afloat, as they provide an essential transportlink to many rural areas.
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