China's civil aviation industry achieved a clean sheet in safety
last year and notched up 3.7 million hours of flight, both cargo
and passenger, a 15.4 percent year-on-year increase.
In 2007, 1.76 million flights were registered, a 12.7 percent
year-on-year increase, the General Administration of Civil Aviation
of China (CAAC) said in a circular released on its website on
Monday.
The total amount of passengers handled by the aviation sector
around the country in 2007 might hit 385 million, a 16 percent
increase over a year ago, according to the CAAC.
With more Chinese opting for air travel rather than rail,
aviation safety has drawn more attention than ever before.
In November 2004, a China Eastern plane crashed shortly after
take-off, killing all 55 passengers and crew members. Since then,
no severe accident had occurred.
(Xinhua News Agency January 15, 2008)
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