Boeing raises forecast for China aircraft demand

Beijing

BOEING Co on Tuesday raised its forecast for China's aircraft demand over the next 20 years, saying it was optimistic about the long-term outlook for the world's second largest aviation market despite a slowing economy and weak stock market.

The US plane maker expects China will need 6,330 aircraft over the next 20 years, a 5 per cent rise from last year's two-decade estimate. It valued the aircraft demand at US$950 billion. "Despite the current volatility in China's financial market, we see strong growth in the country's aviation sector over the long term," Randy Tinseth, vice president of marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, told reporters in Beijing.