Plane purchases expected to top trillion-dollar mark in 20 years

Chinese airlines are predicted to purchase 7,240 airplanes valued at $1.1 trillion over the next 20 years, according to Boeing's annual China Current Market Outlook released in Beijing on Wednesday.

Total airplane demand rose 6.3 percent over last year's forecast, the plane manufacturer revealed at a media briefing.

"China's continuous economic growth, significant investment in infrastructure, growing middle class and evolving airline business models support this long-term outlook," said Randy Tinseth, vice-president of marketing at Boeing Commercial Airplanes.