China Southern Airlines is the biggest airline in China and now doing very nicely as are all the others. This year they may all expect a 16% increase in number of passengers carried because of economic growth and rising inbound tourism.

The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China said in a statement on its web site that China’s airlines may carry 185 million passengers in 2007. The number of passengers rose 16% to 160 million a year earlier.

Passengers are likely to take a total of 1.5 billion domestic flights in China in 2007, 8% more than a year earlier. This is a reflection of the country’s economic growth which makes leisure and business trips affordable to more people.

Cargo traffic was expected to reach 3.9 million tons, up 12% year on year, as exports and imports expand to $2 trillion. The administration said it would revise current plans for price reforms and launch new rules of charging at local airports this year.
Source: TD Trade and Shanghai Daily