China to build world's highest airport in 2012

China will construct the world's highest-altitude airport next year in Tibet, which will the sixth in the strategic Himalayan region.
The airport, planned at an altitude of 4,436 meters in Nagqu prefecture, will be 102 meters higher than Bamda Airport in Tibet's Qamdo prefecture , currently the world's highest, state-run Xinhua news agency quoted a government work report as saying.
The airport will cover an area of up to 660 acres.
The Tibetan Branch of the China civil aviation administration has said the airport is expected to cost $285million with a three-year construction period.
Regional aviation authorities will add more flights next year to connect major cities in Tibet and also link the plateau region with other major cities nationwide, according to the document.