鹤岗，也要建机场了

Core Viewpoint - The construction of airports in shrinking cities like Hegang, which has low housing prices and a declining population, reflects a shift in transportation infrastructure strategy, prioritizing airports over high-speed rail in certain regions [4][11][25]. Group 1: Airport Construction in Shrinking Cities - Hegang has received approval for the construction of the Luobei Airport, marking a significant development for a city known for its extremely low housing prices [4][5]. - The city is part of Heilongjiang province, which will have 15 civil airports, ranking among the top provinces in terms of airport numbers [5]. - The rationale for building airports in shrinking cities is based on cost-effectiveness compared to high-speed rail, especially in areas with low population density and economic challenges [17][18]. Group 2: Economic Viability of Airports - Despite the overall increase in air traffic, many airports, particularly smaller ones, are operating at a loss due to insufficient passenger volume [20][21]. - In 2024, the airport sector is projected to generate revenue of 113.67 billion yuan but incur losses of 13.06 billion yuan [20]. - Approximately 60% of the 263 civil transport airports in China have a throughput of less than 1 million passengers, indicating a significant issue with profitability [21][22]. Group 3: Regional Airport Distribution - As of 2024, China has 263 civil transport airports, with the highest numbers located in western and northeastern provinces, such as Xinjiang (27), Inner Mongolia (19), and Sichuan (17) [29][30]. - The distribution of airports is influenced by geographic location, while passenger volume is more reflective of economic and demographic factors [34]. - The competition for airport construction is expected to intensify in the upcoming "15th Five-Year Plan" period, particularly in western and northeastern regions [35].