China will build an airport to serve 30 million people in central and southern Hunan, following approval by the country’s chief economic coordination agency. In anticipation of approval, the authorities have been acquiring land and demolishing buildings. Construction is not due to begin until the second half of this year but should be completed in 2013 at a cost of 656 million yuan ($104 million).

China Airlines, taking advantage of a newly liberalized air traffic agreement, is adding routes and frequencies to services between its Taiwan base and Japan. Beginning this month, the Taiwanese carrier will open new routes to Kagoshima, Shizuoka and Toyama, and add a total of 21 flights to established routes. The carrier will add nine flights a week to its Osaka service, seven to Fukuoka, four to Nagoya and one to Tokyo.

China's new medium space launcher, the Long March 7, should fly late next year, entering service in an initial version capable of lifting 13.5 metric tons (30,000 lb.) to low Earth orbit, making it significantly larger than current Chinese rockets. The launcher will have four boosters, says Shen Lin, the principal engineer at manufacturer CALT, adding that China is also planning new upper stages.