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Growing India, China economies to
prop intra-Asian aviation
11 July, 2007:
Aviation in Asia is poised to take
a flight to better times riding piggy
back on the fast-growing economies of
China and India.
The booming economies of China and
India will largely shape the future of
aviation in Asia, and the world, as
consumer demand continues to grow in
these two countries. Aviation experts
have forecast that intra-Asia air
traffic will expand by 8.4 per cent
annually through 2021 as a result of
an increase
in average incomes in the region and
more people opting for air travel. The
intra-Asia market is expected to beat
the Asia-North American market, which
will grow at 7.5 percent, and travel
between Asia and Europe, which will
grow at 7 percent.
A forum which discussed in detail the
intra-Asian air travel scenario has
pointed out that China, with an annual
growth rate of 14 percent from 2001 to
2005, saw its aviation industry grow
by 35 percent during 2005 alone. The
bare facts say that China’s domestic
market has 1,068 air routes serving
140 cities, while its international
coverage has 268 air routes to 91
cities in 42 countries.
To add to the party, construction of
airports is also growing at a rapid
pace and there will be 200 airports in
China built by 2010 and 250 by 2020.
However, the shortage of pilots in
China is a matter of concern, says a
report. China which has just 10,000
pilots and 998 aircraft, will add
2,000 new pilots over the next five
years to replace retiring pilots as
well as to fill positions in new
aircraft.
The forum has also pointed out that
demand for aircraft is set to increase
by 3,110 planes in 2025, 81 percent of
which will be used to meet rising
demand in the number of passengers.
Meanwhile, India is finding it hard on
the infrastructure front. Growing
consumer demand for better
infrastructure and more aircraft needs
urgent attention. To add to the
challenges, it was noted that India's
airports do not meet international
standards.
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