As promised, some data on the Civil Aviation industry in China.
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In 2002 there were only 4 airports in China with a capacity to handle 10,000,000 passengers a year or more.
By 2011 there were 21 airports with that capacity and the main ones (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou) handle many more
By 2016 (next year), there will be some 230 Airports of at least that capacity.
There is a government estimate that by 2030 China will need another 5000 aircraft.
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An IATA (International Air Transport Association) report last year forecast that by 2034 flights to, from and within China will account for some 1.3 billion passengers, 856 million more than 2014.
Which places the 2014 figures, as nearly 500 million. The forecast concluded that China will overtake the USA as the world's largest aviation passenger market by 2030.
The above from business magazine, AsiaToday International.
( http://www.asiatoday.com.au/content/china-us-lead-future-air-traffic-growth-says-iata )
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Sort of corroborating that forecast is Boeing's own estimate of the size of the Chinese market:
http://boeing.mediaroom.com/2013-09-05-Boeing-Forecasts-Chinas-Fleet-to-Triple-Over-Next-20-Years
New Airplane Deliveries to China: 2013-2032
Airplane type
Seats
Total deliveries
Dollar value
Regional jets
90 and below
240
$10B
Single-aisle
90-230
3,900
$370B
Small wide-body
200-300
730
$170B
Medium wide-body
300-400
610
$200B
Large wide-body
400 and above
100
$30B
Total
5,580
(16% of world total)
$780B
(16% of world total)
How many average Citizens of China or Russia can afford to buy an airline ticket?
