Airlines aim to upgrade flights
Updated: 2014-03-10 07:09
By Li Lianxing in Nairobi (China Daily)
|
|||||||||||
|
Passengers boarding a flight to Beijing in Algiers. Algeria began to operate direct flights to the Chinese capital in 2009. Yin Ke / Xinhua |
Those traveling between Africa and China used to put up with many challenges
Traveling to Africa used to be a nightmare for Yan Kai, the senior manager of a machinery company in Beijing in the past because it involved flight changes, lengthy stopovers and extensive time delays.
Yan, however, says that things have improved considerably as burgeoning trade and investment ties between China and Africa have prompted airlines from both sides to establish more connections.
|
|
Better ties between China and Africa will help stimulate bilateral trade as more secondary cities establish air links. Currently most of the flights to China operate from African cities such as Addis Ababa, Nairobi and Johannesburg.
"There has been a steady growth in the number of Chinese people traveling to African countries and vice-versa," Yan says, adding that more connections with other African and Chinese cities are needed.
"China is a major trading partner for many African nations. Coupled with the growing number of tourists and air traffic between the two sides, it will witness steady growth," says Elijah Chingosho, secretary-general of the African Airlines Association. The association, based in Ghana, is a trade grouping that fosters ties between Chinese and African carriers.
"Our estimates are that air traffic between Africa and Asia will grow by 8.1 percent every year until 2030," he says.
International air traffic to and from Africa has been growing by about 6 percent every year over the last decade, while domestic air traffic in Africa grew by 12 percent annually, the African Airlines Association said in its 2013 annual report.
|
Related Stories
Africa becoming hot destination for investment 2014-02-25 07:29
China-Africa trade moves up 2014-02-10 01:29
Investment from China beneficial to Africa 2014-01-27 01:01
China is 3rd biggest M&A player in Africa 2013-07-09 06:13
China has big role to play in Africa's development 2014-01-28 10:53
Carrier celebrates 40 yrs of service to China 2013-10-17 19:00
Today's Top News
The search for flight 370 goes on
Obama to meet Ukrainian PM
China to curtail death penalty
Tougher penalty for underage prostitutes
Dailai Lama 'sabotaged ties'
777 vanishes: Malaysia Airlines says so far no evidence of any wreckage
Malaysia plane crashed off coast of Vietnam
'I was supposed to be on that plane'
Hot Topics
Lunar probe , China growth forecasts, Emission rules get tougher, China seen through 'colored lens', International board,
Editor's Picks
Mene slims amid austerity |
Smoke-free two sessions |
Course for reform charted |
Terror attack survivors recount nightmare |
Mandarin or dialect? |
Landing scare grounds homemade planes |