China to Open 97 New Airports Over Next 12 Years
25 March 2008
People’s Daily. China will open 97 new airports before 2020, including a second international airport in Beijing, according to the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) in its latest airport development plan.
The number of airports will increase to 192 by 2010, and to 244 by 2020. At the end of 2006, there were 147, including 45 used for both civilian and military purposes.
This means 82 in every 100 people—who contribute 96 percent of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP)—will live within 100 km, or 90 minutes’ drive, from an airport by 2020. At present, only 61 percent of people—who contribute 82 percent of GDP—lives within this range, the plan said.
The civil airport development plan was drafted to meet increasing demand, as the CAAC predicted passenger traffic will grow by 11.4 percent annually from now until 2020, during which time freight traffic will increase by 14 percent a year.
The number of airports serving more than 30 million passengers a year will increase to 13 by 2020 from three currently. Beijing Capital International Airport, which opened its third terminal last month, is currently China’s largest and busiest, handling 53.5 million passengers in 2007, and ranking among the world’s 10 busiest airports.
Almost 100 new airports and 50,000+ Km new highways and 40 to 60 million new vehicles in the next 12 years may help China to increase their per capita GHG between 1/6 and 1/4 the USA and Canada current level.
Where will all the additional liquid fuel required come from?
Massive production of efficient Hybrids, PHEVs and BEVs could help to reduce fuel consumption and GHGs.
China may need all the available farmland to feed their 1.5 billion people by 2020. Agrofuels may not be the ideal solution unless feedstocks are imported.
Posted by: Harvey D | 26 March 2008 at 11:29 AM