China's aviation turnover takes off

China's aviation turnover takes off

China's aviation industry turnover reached 16.2 billion-ton kilometers in 2002, up 14.9 percent compared with the previous year.

The rapid development of domestic and foreign trade as well as tourism stimulated the aviation demand last year. The total number of passengers reached 84.25 million and cargo reached 1.98 million tons, up 12 and 15.8 percent respectively compared with the previous year, said Yang Yuanyuan, director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC).

He said here on Jan.23 during an annual aviation working meeting that the growth of international routes was faster than that of domestic routes and the increase in cargo business was faster than that of passengers last year.