Some 583 smaller aircraft or regional jets are expected to be added
to the country's passenger fleet in the coming two decades, an
official with
China Aviation Industry Corp I (AVIC I) said Wednesday.
Speaking at the Aviation Expo/China 2001 in Beijing, Wang Qiming
said steady economic development and World Trade Organization
accession will fuel demand for regional jets.
Wang, who heads AVIC I's civil aircraft department, said the
central government's decision to develop the western part of the
country and the success of Beijing's bid to host the 2008 Olympics
will also boost demand.
By
2020, China's passenger fleet will have 1,852 aircraft, and the
ratio of regional jets to the total fleet will rise from the
current 14.7 percent to 31.5 percent, he said.
Transport by regional jets will become a new growth area of the
country's civil aviation industry. "The vast market demand has
brought enormous opportunities for Chinese aircraft companies,''
Wang said.
Zhang Yanzhong, general manager of AVIC II, said research and
development of regional jets of 30 to 50 seats will be boosted.
"We welcome foreign investors to help with the development of the
small aircraft,'' he said.
International cooperation is encouraged and foreign partners are
expected to join regional aircraft projects, he said.
Zhang Hongbiao, vice-minister of the State Commission of Science,
Technology and Industry for National Defence, said China will give
top priority to the research and development of small aircraft in
the coming decades.
Production of regional airliners is the nation's best bet as the
aviation industry currently lacks the capability to produce larger
planes competitively.
"We cannot compete with aviation giants such as Boeing and Airbus
in financial clout and market share,'' the vice-minister said.
The State has already announced plans to create preferential
conditions for the use of regional airlines, he said.
A
number of airports are to be upgraded and around 36 new airports
are to be built within the next five years that are suitable for
smaller planes, he said.
With the aim of encouraging the use of small aircraft, civil
aviation authorities announced a reduction of airport construction
fees, which is charged on the average passenger, from 50 yuan
(US$6) to 10 yuan (US$1.2) last October.
China's aviation industry will also make efforts to explore the
international market for China-made small aircraft, Zhang said.
(China
Daily 09/20/2001)