Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) visits the plane manufacturing plant of Boeing in Everett of Seattle, the United States, April 19. (Photo: Xinhua)

Air China Ltd, the nation's flagship carrier, reported on Tuesday a 0.85 per cent rise in its net profit for 2005, while its domestic rivals continue to fly in the red.

The reporter learned it from Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), it is forecasted that in "May 1st" golden week of this year, the number of tourists will be travelling by air will possibily reach 3.3 million, which means an increase of about 20% compared with the same time of last year.

Forest protection airplanes organized by Beijing's forestry protection station were spraying insect repellent on trees in Beijing's Daxing District on Apr. 16. US white moths started to threaten Beijing, Tianjin, Hebei, Liaoning, Shandong and Shaanxi again lately. In order to prevent pest disasters from occurring in forests, the General Office of the State Council released the "notice of further reinforcing prevention and control of US white moths" recently. In 2006, the forestry station plans to fly 450 planes and protect an area of 450,000 mu (74,250 acres).

The amount of freight handled by Hong Kong International Airport in March has broken the record in one single month whilst it reached 320,000 tonne. At the same time, passenger numbers and the number of aircraft take-off and landing also get a stable increase.

On the morning of the 19th, 4.8 million honeybees divided into 800 groups took a charter plane from the Fuzhou Changle International Airport in Fujian Province to Sarawak of Malaysia. This is the first time for China to export honeybees on such a large scale.

Business people in both Iraq and China would welcome direct flights between Guangzhou and Baghdad, according to visitors at a trade fair.

A coalition of technology companies, including Intel and IBM, are calling for restrictions on US-China flights to be eased after a shortage of capacity forced manufacturers to charter aircraft for shipments.

Aeronautics experts from Russia and China gathered Sunday for a two-day forum on cooperation in aviation and aeronautics in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

China Southern Airlines with the largest and most technically advanced aircraft fleet in The People's Republic of China has awarded Carlson Marketing China a consulting assignment to renovate their existing frequent flyer program, The Sky Pearl Club. The agency was appointed for its innovative approach in customer loyalty programs and cross channel expertise.