China’s domestic air passenger traffic in May increased 26 per cent from a year earlier, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC). This was higher than the average monthly growth rate of 18 per cent for the January-May period. However, passenger numbers on international flights declined by more than 17 per cent over the first five months.

Over the past month, many domestic air carriers have started new routes and added frequency to existing services.

They are also expanding their fleets, with Li Jiaxiang, director general of the CAAC, saying that they plan to buy 243 aircraft in 2009. Xinhua quoted Li as saying that the country’s aircraft orders have not been affected by the global economic recession, and no other countries would buy as many aircraft as China this year.