Airport development pushed in

The Inner Mongolia Civil Aviation Airports Group said there will be 37 new airports built in West China during the 11th Five-Year Plan. Six airports will also be moved and 31 airports expanded in West China. Civil airports in Inner Mongolia will increase from nine to 12 by 2010. The airport group is working to increase the number of airports in the region. It is expected to invest about RMB 2.5 billion in the next three years for airport development. Hohhot Airport began construction in 2005 and will be put into operation this July. The retrofitting and expansion projects of Baotou Airport, Hailar Airport, and Wulanhot Airport will begin this year. The construction of the Chifeng Military and Civil Airport, Arshan Airport and Erlianhot Airport will also begin this year, and the Xilinhot Airport flight area will also be expanded. By 2020, there will be 18 airports in Inner Mongolia based on the plan.