The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China opened 1,176 air lines by the end of last year, with total air-traffic mileage reaching 2.29 million kilometers.

An official with the administration said the number of air routes has continued to grow at an average annual rate of 9 percent since the 1990s.

China is currently opening more new domestic air lines and international routes.
 
(CRI.com May 31, 2004)