China's aviation sector set for continued growth in 2025

China's aviation industry is poised for steady growth in 2025, with projected growth in air cargo, passenger traffic, and industry revenue, according to plans announced at a national civil aviation work conference on Thursday.

According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the country's aviation industry is forecast to achieve a transportation turnover of 161 billion tonne-km, with passenger traffic soaring to 780 million and cargo and mail volume surging to 9.5 million tonnes, which is expected to drive further growth in profitability

The recovery of international flights is also a key focus, with the CAAC aiming to restore international flight capacity to over 90 percent of pre-pandemic levels in 2025.

Key airport projects in cities such as Guangzhou in southern China, Dalian in northeastern China, and regional airports such as Balikun Dahe Airport in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will advance, with the goal of increasing the total number of transport airports to 270 by the end of the year.

The CAAC will also prioritize optimizing airspace in busy regions such as Wenzhou in eastern China, Wuhan in central China, and Hainan in southern China, to enhance air traffic management.

China's aviation sector set for continued growth in 2025

China's aviation sector set for continued growth in 2025

Russia on Thursday announced that its forces controlled one more settlement, while the Ukrainian side reported conducting high-precision strikes on Russian command posts.

According to a statement released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on Thursday, Russian troops seized control of one more settlement in the Donetsk region. The ministry also claimed that its forces had successfully repelled Ukrainian attacks and launched offensives in the directions of Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

The statement also noted that Russian air defense systems had intercepted 67 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles. Besides, strikes were carried out by the Russian side on Ukrainian drone storage facilities and ammunition depots.

On the same day, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that its forces had engaged in 109 battles on the frontline over the past 24 hours. Ukrainian forces claimed to have struck Russian personnel and equipment concentrations, command posts, and electronic warfare base stations.

The Ukrainian side also said that its air force conducted high-precision strikes on a Russian command post in the Kherson region and another command post in the Kursk region.

Russia claims control of one more settlement, Ukraine says Russian command posts raided