China’s air navigation infrastructure must keep pace with demand and growing airport capacity, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).
The global airline body is encouraging China to continue to develop its air transport sector by ensuring sufficient capacity based on global standards and best practices.
“Air transport plays a critical role in China’s economic development. China is looking to increase its share of world trade from 10.4 to 15 per cent. Aviation connectivity will be critical to making that happen,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO at the China Civil Aviation Development Forum in Beijing.
“Already it is prioritising investments in airport and air navigation infrastructure. The challenge is to keep pace with rapidly growing demand, based on the global standards which underpin safe and efficient global connectivity.”
Tyler noted that China already ranks highly for the size of its air transport industry: second in the world for domestic passengers, seventh for international and fourth for international cargo.
“But this is only the beginning. Of the 877 million additional global air travelers expected to fly in 2015 than in 2010, more than 212 million will be on journeys within or connected to China,” said Tyler.
Tyler highlighted two infrastructure development priorities to enable China to realize this growth potential.
“IATA has worked very successfully with China to open new entry points to Chinese airspace and create more flexibility in cooperation with the military. However, the challenge is growing daily as travel demand increases, leading to frustration and delays for airline passengers. The more flexibility we have in how we use and share airspace with the military as well as between domestic and international flights, the better we will be able to manage growth and meet passenger expectations,” said Tyler.
Tyler added that planning for hub capacity in Beijing continues to be a priority, praising the Chinese authorities for already seeking development options when the current infrastructure at Beijing Capital International Airport reaches its design capacity. It has risen to become the world’s second busiest airport when measured in passenger numbers.
“The best solution would be expansion on the same geographic site,” said the IATA chief. “Consolidating traffic in one airport creates the most options for connectivity and keeps costs low. But if it is decided that development at a second location is necessary, then a transparent and clear system for allocating operations between the two airports will be required, in consultation with the airlines.”
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“Air transport plays a critical role in China’s economic development. China is looking to increase its share of world trade from 10.4 to 15 per cent. Aviation connectivity will be critical to making that happen,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO at the China Civil Aviation Development Forum in Beijing.
“Already it is prioritising investments in airport and air navigation infrastructure. The challenge is to keep pace with rapidly growing demand, based on the global standards which underpin safe and efficient global connectivity.”
Tyler noted that China already ranks highly for the size of its air transport industry: second in the world for domestic passengers, seventh for international and fourth for international cargo.
“But this is only the beginning. Of the 877 million additional global air travelers expected to fly in 2015 than in 2010, more than 212 million will be on journeys within or connected to China,” said Tyler.
Tyler highlighted two infrastructure development priorities to enable China to realize this growth potential.
“IATA has worked very successfully with China to open new entry points to Chinese airspace and create more flexibility in cooperation with the military. However, the challenge is growing daily as travel demand increases, leading to frustration and delays for airline passengers. The more flexibility we have in how we use and share airspace with the military as well as between domestic and international flights, the better we will be able to manage growth and meet passenger expectations,” said Tyler.
Tyler added that planning for hub capacity in Beijing continues to be a priority, praising the Chinese authorities for already seeking development options when the current infrastructure at Beijing Capital International Airport reaches its design capacity. It has risen to become the world’s second busiest airport when measured in passenger numbers.
“The best solution would be expansion on the same geographic site,” said the IATA chief. “Consolidating traffic in one airport creates the most options for connectivity and keeps costs low. But if it is decided that development at a second location is necessary, then a transparent and clear system for allocating operations between the two airports will be required, in consultation with the airlines.”
