This latest development of Airbus' cooperation in China perfectly supports the forecast for passenger air traffic in China which is set to grow well above the world average of 4.6%.

The average annual growth for the domestic air traffic market in China will be at 6.9% and that for the international market is forecast to be at 6.8%. The key underlying factors for the forecast are as follows: China's long term economic outlook remains positive, Chinese middle class continues to increase and Chinese outbound tourism is expanding.

According to Airbus' 2015-2034 Global Market Forecast, new deliveries of passenger aircraft over 100 seats and freighters greater than 10 tonnes for China will be around 5,400 comprising 3,630 single aisle aircraft and 1,770 twin-aisle and very large aircraft.

This represents about 17 per cent of the world total demand for some 32,600 new aircraft in the same period. The total market value for the forecast new aircraft to be delivered to China is over US$840 billion.

At present, the in-service Airbus fleet with Chinese operators comprises more than 1240 aircraft (over 170 A330 Family and over 1,000 A320 Family aircraft). Airbus A330 is the most popular wide-body aircraft in China.
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