Air China, the country's national carrier, plans to spend 3.5 billion yuan (US$432 million) on the renovation and expansion of Beijing International Airport in the next three years, Beijing News reported on Wednesday.

The move is aimed to cement the airport's role as Air China's main transportation hub, according to Air China's President Ma Xulun.

The report revealed that the airline will also spend 4 billion yuan (US$495) on the construction of airport infrastructure during the ongoing third phase of the airport expansion project.

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2005)