Yunnan province plans to merge its 10 airports into a group company following a central Government decision to transfer airport management to local governments to boost efficiency and expand investment sources.
Wei Jianguo, executive deputy secretary general of the province's Civil Aviation Administration, yesterday said he would be transferred to the company after the planned restructuring.
He would not give an indication on the asset value of the merged entity.
Mr Wei was speaking after the launch ceremony of a direct flight between Kunming and Hong Kong, operated by the province's main carrier, China Yunnan Airlines.
The 10 airports in Yunnan are in the cities of Kunming, Xishuangbanna, Lijiang, Dali, Mangshi, Zhongdian, Baoshan, Zhaotong, Linchang and Simao.
While Yunnan is a major tourism destination with a large number of airports, they are relatively small.
Kunming Airport was the mainland's sixth-busiest passenger airport last year, processing 6.44 million passengers - 15 per cent higher than in 2000.