China to become world's biggest aviation market in 2030

BEIJING - China is expected to overtake the United States to become the world's biggest aviation market in passenger turnover by 2030, said Tony Tyler, CEO of International Air Transport Association (IATA), on Wednesday.

China's aviation industry has grown in quality as well as quantity in the past 25 years, Tyler said.

"The impressive achievements China has made to date give us confidence that even more improvements are possible," he said.

By 2034, about one fifth of the world's passengers are expected to come from China, go to China or transfer via China, he said, citing improved infrastructure such as the new Beijing international airport.

The Chinese aviation industry can improve its services in areas such as reducing flight delays, streamlining new route applications and introducing more effective air controls, Tyler said.