The state-owned China Aviation Industry Corporation (AVIC) forecast Tuesday that the country's air industry would require more than 3,000 civil aircraft in the next 20 years.

A report released by the AVIC at the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuhai said the industry would require 3,110 more civil aircraft including 2,230 large jetliners and 880 'feeder' aircraft.

Taking into account decommissioned planes the industry is expected to have 3,370 aircraft by the end of 2025. This figure includes 2,470 large jetliners.

The report said passenger volume would increase annually by 8.6 percent and would exceed one trillion person kilometers by the end of 2025.

China's air transport industry is expected to develop faster than the international average. In 2005 its air transport volume ranked second in the world. The increase in the business is being stimulated by a booming economy, a growth in tourism and international trade, said the report.

Cargo volume will rise to 60 billion ton-kilometers by the end of 2025 -- an annual increase of 10.7 percent.

The forecast included companies in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.

Established in 1999, AVICi manufactures a range of aero products, including military, transport and reconnaissance aircraft, turbojet and turbofan engines, air-to-air missiles and ground-to-air missiles.

(Xinhua News Agency November 1, 2006)