BEIJING — China's small and medium-sized airports will share 1.56 billion yuan (about $222.86 million) of subsidies in 2020, according to a draft plan issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The subsidies will cover 174 airports across the country, according to the draft plan issued to solicit public opinions.

China's civil airport industry saw steady growth in the past 10 years.

The number of licensed transport airports surged from 158 to 238, improving the density from 1.6 per 100,000 square km to 2.5 over the past decade. The number of licensed general airports increased nine-fold to 240, surpassing that of licensed transport airports, an official with the CAAC said in November.