With rapidly expanding civil aviation industry, by 2012 China has total 183 civil airports of all types and sizes in operation (excluding Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan regions) for civilian use. According to the standards of International Civil Aviation Organization, there are 12 4F-class airports, 27 4E-class airports, 16 4D-class airports, and more 4C-class and 3C-class airports.

In 2012, China's airport passenger throughput and cago volume reach, respectively, 679.772 million passengers and 11.943 million tons. Top ten airports handled over 19 million passengers in 2012.

Beijing Capital International Airport - 81.92 million
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport - 48.30 million
Shanghai Pudong International Airport - 44.88 million
Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport - 33.83 million
Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport - 31.59 million
Shenzhen Baoan International Airport - 29.57 million
Kunming Wujiaba International Airport - 23.98 million
Xian Xianyang International Airport - 23.42 million
Chongqing Jiangbei International Airport - 22.06 million
Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport - 19.15 million

Among them, Beijing Capital International Airport handled 81,929,352 passengers and made it the world second airport in terms of passenger traffic.

China plans to raise the total number of civil airports to 244, including 97 new airports before 2020. In Northern region (Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Jilin, Heilongjiang), there are 30 existing airports and new projects, the Second Beijing airport, Handan, Wutaishan, Aershan, Changbaishan, Mohe, Fuyuan and so far total 24 new airports will be built. In East China (Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, Fujian, Jiangxi, Shandong), 12 new airports will be constructed in Suzhong, Lishui, Wuhu, Sanming, Jiangxi East, Jining and other areas, the total will reach 49. In South China (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Henan, Hubei, Hunan) 14 new Airports will be built. In Southwest China (Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Tibet), 21 new airports will be constructed in areas of Qianjiang, Kangding, Tengchong, Liupanshui and other cities. In Northwest (Shaanxi, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang) new airports, Tianshui, Longnan, Yushu, Kanas and other total 26 airports will be built.