By Liu Tao, Research Team on "Development Strategy for China's Small-and-medium-sized Cities' Accessibility and Regional Aviation", Research Department of Social Development, DRC

Research Report Special Issue No 42, 2015 (Total NO 1445)

Abstract:

For a future period of time, China's regional aviation development will face a series of golden opportunities. Striving to develop regional aviation is beneficial for the implementation of new strategies for regional development and the flow of productive forces on a larger scope. It could advance new-type urbanization construction, enhance urbanization quality, upgrade consumption mode and unleash demand under the new normal. In addition, it is advantageous for building a comprehensive transport system and improving overall benefits of the transport system, deepening overall reform and updating aviation development concepts, supporting national defense construction and enhancing national governance capacity. Fully leveraging advantages of regional aviation in improving small-and-medium-sized cities' accessibility will usher in a new landscape for sustained and rapid regional aviation development. It is predicted that China's future regional aviation passenger capacity will keep growing rapidly, with annual average increase growing faster than before. By 2020, the volume of regional aviation passenger transport is expected to exceed 100 million, around twice that of the current figure.