China’s airline industry is blooming, and the nation expects to add three times the number of planes it now has to its ranks over the next 20 years, Boeing Co. spokespeople said Thursday.
The company’s annual forecast, released this week, indicates that Chinese carriers are on track to purchase enough planes to triple the size of their fleets by 2032. That’s a projected 7 percent increase each year — putting China in the top six of Boeing’s sources of global sales, The Associated Press reported.
By the numbers, China is expected to purchase 5,580 planes at a cost of $780 billion.
The expectation comes from China’s growing economy and booming tourist industry. AP reported that both Boeing and its European competitor, Airbus Industrie — an offshoot of European Aeronautic Defense and Space Co. — are both eyeing China as a major sales and revenue source.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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