Airline event showcases aviation industry to public

More than 200 professional participants in the civil aviation industry, including airline companies, supporting enterprises, research institutes and civil aviation manufacturers, gathered in Beijing on Friday to join the first China Air Transport Association Aviation Conference.

The three-day conference, including an opening ceremony, professional forums and an exhibition, was hosted by the China Air Transport Association, or CATA. It has attracted attention from both professionals and the wider public.

On the first day of the conference, nearly 10,000 people visited the exhibition. About 2,000 experts have also attended and will join the forums. These allow professionals to share their industry insights from various perspectives, including safety and flight punctuality, as well as green and intelligent development.

Hu Zhenjiang, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, said that this year, China's civil aviation sector has gradually recovered from the pandemic, thanks to the joint efforts from the whole industry.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the conference, he said "The air transportation market is growing steadily and the infrastructure construction is increasing," adding that the number of passengers handled in the third quarter of this year has exceeded the same period in 2019, setting a new quarterly record.

CATA chairman Wang Changshun said it aims to build the conference as a civil aviation event with international influence to focus on topics such as safety, high-quality service and the improvement of flight punctuality, as well as green and intelligent development.

He also noted that civil aviation is a sector requiring a lot of international cooperation.

"It has always been an important driving force for the development of global civil aviation to strengthen international exchanges and cooperation," he added.

"CATA will strive to make the conference a platform for exchanges, cooperation and sharing in the global civil aviation sector, and inject new impetus into the development of global civil aviation."

At the conference opening ceremony, 50 captains and 50 flight attendants received honorable titles to reward their performance at work.

The conference not only has professional forums to discuss the latest technology and trends in the industry, but also offers interactive experience activities to attract the non-professional audience.

Food from different airline companies was on offer at the event, which attracted much attention, and visitors had a chance to operate a simulator and experience taxiing a Boeing 737 from the ground to takeoff. Students also had a chance to observe different types of airplanes at close quarters.

"It can further enhance the public's understanding of the civil aviation industry by displaying uniforms and food from different airlines and setting up a knowledge and experience corner for young civil aviation fans," said Liu Shuguo, supervisor of the CATA, adding that this helps to nurture the prospective market of the industry.