China to Purchase 1,600 Aircraft Over 20 YearsThe demand for new aircraft will be strong in China over the next two decades.As airline passenger numbers in China will grow at an annual rate of 7.7 percent, the highest in the world, the aviation industry will need to purchase 1,570 new passenger planes and 26 cargo planes valued at US$149 billion in the period from now until 2019, according to Pierre De Montgolfier, president of Airbus Industrie (China) Co. The demand for aircraft with seating for 100 to 180 people will be 820, flying mainly on domestic routes. The second largest purchase will be of 290 broad-body planes with each having 200-250 seats, De Montgolfier said. Airbus Industrie is seeking all-round cooperation with China. The European company co-produces A300, A310, A330 and A340 parts with four Chinese companies. Chinese engineers are in Europe to join in the design of the A318 passenger plane. Since the company entered the Chinese market in 1985, its threemajor aircraft models have been put to use on most of the country's air routes. |
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