As the world aviation industry has sagged recently, many of the worlds airline companies have turned to China, in the hope the fastest growing market in the world will help them to recover.
While European and American airline companies have begun to lay off employees and apply for bail outs, the Chinese civil aviation industry has boomed. Over 300,000 passengers traveled by air on October 6, and 70 extra charter flights went to the scenic spot of Zhangjiajie alone.
Foreign airline companies also saw increases in travelers in China. During the past National Day (October 1) holiday, Vietnam Airlines began direct flights from Beijing to Hanoi, with the occupancy rate reaching nearly 80 percent.
The holiday economy and the policy to develop the western areas have stimulated the domestic demand for airplanes. According to recent agreements, China will buy 21 planes from the Fairchild Dornier Corporation and 30 from Boeing. Experts held that China will help rejuvenate the world aviation industry at an important moment.
"China will need more than 1,700 planes in the next 20 years and become the second largest civil aviation market behind only the United States," according to Fred R. Howard, president of Boeing China.
"Chinese people may confront some difficulties in the short term, but in the long run, there will not be any bad influence," said Peter A Bott, manager of the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Max-Viz, a company producing safety equipment on planes, announced recently that it will enter the China market.
"We are looking closely at China's airports, terminals and passengers, which have developed with tremendous speed," said an official with the company.
In China, the aviation industry has become the powerhouse for trade and tourism nowadays.
In order to ensure fast growth of the aviation industry, the Chinese government has concentrated on reform and breaking its monopoly, which will further enhance the confidence of the world aviation industry in China.
(Xinhua News Agency 10/12/2001)
