Article Posted on : - Sep 19, 2011

BEIJING (PTI): China may need 5,000 passenger planes at a cost of about USD 600 billion by 2030 judging by the current trends in air traffic.

Based on the increase in Chinese airline passengers, Boeing estimates that China will need 5,000 planes worth USD 600 billion, by 2030.

Sixteen per cent will replace old aircraft and 84 per cent will be additions to the air fleet, Randy Tinseth, vice-president of marketing at Boeing’s commercial plane section was quoted by state-run China Daily as saying.

In 2010, Beijing Capital International Airport was designated as the busiest Chinese airport with 73.95 million passengers. Hong Kong came second with 50.9 million passengers. Beijing airport was also the world’s second busiest in 2010 after London’s Heathrow.

Wang Jian, former secretary-general of the China Civil Airport Association, cited economic development and improved living standards as reasons behind rapid airport development.