The number of China's civil airports might reach 300 by 2020, and form 5 aviation hubs in North, East, Central, Southwest and Northwest China, Xinhuanet.com reported on May 27.

China's civil aviation industry attracted fixed assets investment of 60 billion yuan (US$8.8 billion) in 2009, and the number of certificated airports increased to 166, up from 160 at the end of 2008. The investment will grow to 90 billion yuan this year.

Sha Hongjiang, deputy director of the Civil Aviation Administration of China's (CAAC) policy and regulation department, said 95 percent of the country's population will have access to civil airports within 100 kilometers of their homes by 2030.

Sha made the remarks at a forum sponsored by the China Civil Airports Association (CCAA). More than 300 government officials and experts from domestic or overseas discussed civil airport infrastructure development issues.

The China Civil Airports Association has more than 100 airport members carrying 99 percent of the country's passenger throughput, freight volume and flights.