Talking to delegates at the Asian Aerospace Congress yesterday morning, Wang Changshun, vice minister of the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC), said the mainland government was looking at further market collaborations to boost its domestic market in a move that will require a new type of structure in order to succeed in meeting its new ambitious targets
From a base of 50 airports in 2005, the government will have 190 civil airports by 2020. “We will need to develop new airlines and facilities to meet future infrastructure needs and increase competition by continuing with reform efforts,” says Wang.
He added that to reform the entire industry to meet market needs, not only should small-scale airlines be encouraged, but also large-scale international collaborations and joint-ventures. “We must promote a new type of structure while continuing with our reform efforts and facilitate new brands,” he says.
Warning that safety was not yet up to international standards, but would be reinforced with a new safety management system, Wang says the rapid, balanced development of aviation hubs across the mainland would remain a top priority. This included a promotion of the development of routes through Hong Kong,
Wang’s comments chimed with the opening address from Eva Cheng, the transport and housing secretary of the Hong Kong government, who says trilateral talks between the civil aviation authorities of Hong Kong, Macau and
Cheng says the island’s civil aviation infrastructure is being boosted by a $1 billion transportation investment, which will include a commitment to improving baggage handling facilities at Hong Kong Airport, a new hangar for China Aircraft Services, a widening of taxiways for the Airbus A380 and the possibility for a third airport terminal.
“We are looking at different ways to ensure
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Source: Flight Daily News
