Summary of Key Points
The Civil Aviation Administration of China and two other departments have released the “15th Five-Year Plan” for the development of civil aviation, with the goal of making civil aviation safe, service-oriented, and infrastructure-wise world-class by 2030. The plan also aims to address current issues in air travel, such as high refund fees and expensive airport services, to make air travel safer, more convenient, and more accessible to the general public. By 2025, the number of passengers is expected to reach 770 million, and by 2026, this figure is set to rise to 810 million.
Detailed Explanation
1. Safety as the Top Priority: No Compromises on Safety
Safety is of utmost concern for air travelers, so it is placed at the forefront of the plan. The document emphasizes the need to “ensure absolute safety in air operations and the protection of people’s lives,” which means taking all possible precautions to prevent aircraft malfunctions, reduce human errors, and strengthen regulatory oversight (e.g., by inspecting airlines’ safety measures) to avoid major accidents. The consequences of a disaster would be unimaginable, making safety the foundation for civil aviation development.
2. Efficient and Smart Airport Construction
To increase accessibility, more airports need to be built, and these must be both efficient and well-designed. The plan calls for “moderately forward-looking” investment, which means building necessary facilities in advance without wasting resources. For example, during the “14th Five-Year Plan,” 630 billion yuan was invested, and an additional investment of over 100 billion yuan is planned for 2026. How will this money be used?
- New airports will be built with advanced technologies such as facial recognition for boarding, automatic baggage tracking, solar power systems, and the purchase of new, low-carbon aircraft.
- Existing airports will be upgraded with smart systems to streamline check-in and security processes, allowing passengers to complete all procedures simply by using their faces (no need for ID cards).
As a result, not only will there be more airports, but they will also become more user-friendly.
3. Reining in Unfair Practices
Many travelers face unfair refund fees and high prices at airports. The revised Civil Aviation Law has been implemented to regulate these practices, requiring airlines to clearly state their refund and booking policies to prevent arbitrary charges. Additionally, airport services such as dining and parking are often more expensive than outside due to a lack of competition. The plan aims to address this by making airport prices more reasonable and protecting consumers from exploitation.
4. Making Air Travel More Accessible
With the increasing number of air travelers (770 million in 2025), the plan seeks to make air travel more affordable and equitable for everyone. This includes:
- Expanding flight services to smaller cities, which may previously have lacked airports.
- Providing equal access to convenient services for both business travelers and ordinary citizens (e.g., more comfortable seats and faster internet connectivity in airports).
- Making ticket and airport prices more competitive and reasonable through market competition and regulation, so air travel is no longer a luxury.
In Conclusion
The core of this plan is to make civil aviation safer, smarter, and more accessible to the general public. From ensuring safety to upgrading infrastructure to protecting consumer rights, every step is aimed at meeting people’s expectations for a better air travel experience. In the future, flying may become as convenient and hassle-free as taking the high-speed train.