China's air transport market is growing by 7.6 percent annually and its domestic air transport market will grow at an average annual rate of 9 percent, according to the report.

About 1,550 new airplanes are likely to be added to China's carriers to serve domestic markets, including Hong Kong and Macao, accounting for 81 percent of China's new aircraft.

Single-aisle jetliners, like Boeing 717, 737 and 757 models, together with regional jets, will account for 77 percent of the aircraft delivered for the domestic market.

According to the report, the China to northeast Asia market, expected to grow at 7.1 percent, will be the fastest growth of the China-related international markets. The China to North America market is predicted to grow by 6.1 percent, while China to Europe will grow by 5.4 percent.

Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and other large provincial cities are expected to have more non-stop flights to major European and American cities.

Randy Baseler, vice-president of marketing with Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said China's rapid economic growth is the key factor behind the fast development of its domestic air transport market.

He predicted that in the Asia-Pacific market, Chinese domestic carriers would outpace foreign carriers in the increase of flights in the next 20 years.

(People's Daily November 5, 2002)