China to Import More Planes to Fly China's SkiesChina is planning to purchase 400 aircraft from around the world within the coming five years for civil aviation to keep the industry growing at a quick pace.The state civil aviation industry plans to increase its volume of passengers to 100 million per year by the end of 2005. And its freight service is expected to reach 2.8 million kilograms a year, according to China Daily. "For the coming five years, it is rational for China's civil aviation industry to develop at a relative faster pace," said Wang Zhi, director of the Planning Department under the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). In 2000, China soared to No 6 in the world in passenger transport volume, while in 1978, it ranked 33rd. Statistics from CAAC indicate that China's passenger transport volume in 2000 rose to 67 million. To date, China has 57 civil freight planes across the nation and the passenger planes in service offer more than 92,000 seats at any given time. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/ |