Xinjiang increases size of aviation fleet

Xinjiang's general aviation fleet will import 10 new aircraft from Switzerland this year to develop tourism, improve emergency rescue capabilities and boost its role in the Belt and Road Initiative, according to officials.

The first of the 10 aircraft - all of which are Pilatus PC-12 produced by Switzerland's Pilatus Aircraft Co - recently arrived in Shihezi in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, and the second one is expected to arrive soon, said Lin Haitao, head of Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps Aviation Business Administration.

The other eight airplanes are expected to be delivered and transported to Xinjiang in the first half of this year, Lin said.