China's soaring aviation industry is expected to double its transport volume over the next five years, said Gao Hongfeng, deputy director of China's General Administration of Civil Aviation.

Gao told a news conference held in Beijing on Tuesday that airline passengers and air cargo will more than double over the next five years compared with the volumes of 2005.

China's booming economy and worldwide economic development are responsible for the growth, Gao said,

The country's airlines still faces challenges, he said, citing the increasing demand for qualified pilots and limited airspace resources available as the two major bottlenecks to the aviation industry's development.

Gao said, his administration will continue to stress aviation safety in the coming years.

The administration will speed up airport construction and handling capacity as it inaugurates more domestic and international air routes, he said.

Streamlining and improving services for airline passengers is another priority of the aviation administration, said Gao.

(Xinhua News Agency February 15, 2006)