New measures are to be introduced to prevent the civil aviation
industry from developing too quickly and ensure the country
maintains its good safety record, an official has said.
According to official figures, there have been no major aviation
accidents in China for 37 months, or 9.93 million flight hours, a
record for the industry.
Li Jiaxiang, the newly appointed acting minister of the General
Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), told a working
conference yesterday that the measures will ensure the stable
development of the industry.
They will include controls on the number of aircraft purchases
that can be made by airlines, and the introduction of tighter
restrictions on new airlines entering the market.
Figures released yesterday by the CAAC showed the industry
developed rapidly last year, with both passenger and cargo numbers
recording double-digit growth.
Some 185 million people flew last year, 16 percent more than in
2006, and 3.96 million tons of cargo was transported, up 13
percent, year on year.
Ten of the country's airports last year handled more than 10
million passengers, compared with just seven airports a year
earlier.
The CAAC has forecast airports this year will handle 210 million
passengers, up almost 14 percent year on year, and 4.45 million
tons of cargo, up 12 percent.
The authorities, however, fear that if the industry develops too
quickly, flight safety could be jeopardized.
Industry insiders have added to the fears, saying that most
small-scale private airlines lack pilots, so the ones they do have
are forced to work a lot of overtime, which creates a safety
risk.
These airlines will be specifically targeted by the new
measures, Li said.
Airlines that cannot supply the required number of cockpit crew
to fly its planes will not be allowed to import new aircraft or
open new routes, he said.
A rule was introduced last year to suspend applications for new
airlines until 2010, Li said. The administration will approve less
than three airlines a year from the applications received before
the rule was announced.
The administration will also impose stricter requirements on new
airline applications, and closely scrutinize investors, plane
ownership and pilot quality, he said.
Li, the former general manager of China National Aviation
Holding Co, encouraged domestic airlines to open more long-distance
international flights to Europe and North America, to "raise their
percentage of share in the international market".
He said domestic airlines were losing market share on
international routes, especially in the cargo transport market.
In 2000, carriers had a 44-percent share of the international
cargo market, but the figure has dropped to 18 percent.
"There is a danger that cargo airlines will be marginalized in
this area," he said.
With the arrival of the new Boeing 787 and Airbus 380, now is
the time for airlines to open more international flights and
increase their market share, Li said.
(China Daily January 11, 2008)
