China will purchase more than 100 airliners each year in the 11th Five-Year Development Program period (2006-2010), Gao Hongfeng, deputy director general of the General Administration of Civil Aviation told a press conference in Beijing Tuesday.

China's booming economy has created a higher demand for aviation transportation, Gao said, adding that the country's airlines have carried about 130 million passengers, leaving great potential for aviation transportation.

China will need more than 1,000 new pilots in the next five years and the training of airline captains is especially urgent, Gao noted.

Gao said his administration will tighten safety supervision of domestic airline companies.

Source: Xinhua