China will invest 52 billion yuan (6.67 billion U.S. dollars) in airport construction in its western regions from 2006 to 2010, said sources with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) on Monday.

Six airports will be relocated and 31 will be expanded during the five years. Twelve airports were built and expanded in 2006 and 17 are under construction.

Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will increase the number of its airports from the current 16 to 20 in 2010, according to the CAAC's five-year plan for airport construction.

Meanwhile, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which is also included in the country's West Development Strategy, will have 12 airports in 2010 and 18 in 2020.

The CAAC also plans to give subsidies to small airports in the western regions and some of the scheduled flights there.

In December 2006, the CAAC and the local governments in northwest China paid a cash subsidy of 10 million yuan to airline companies that run feeder lines there.

The western regions currently have 54 civilian airports, 38 percent of the country's total.

Source: Xinhua