Inefficient airspace routing in the Pearl River Delta is costing mainland and global airlines nearly US$130,000 (HK$1.01 million) a day and needs to be remedied quickly, an international airline industry group said on May 9.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) also urged China to raise fuel-efficiency standards and make air traffic management more transparent and efficient.

"The inefficient airspace design in the Pearl River Delta is costing HK$1 million a day with mainland carriers being the most affected," IATA head Giovanni Bisignani said. "We need a solution quickly."

Bisignani praised China for opening up new air routes to Europe last year, but urged the nation to bring its air routing up to international standards.

"The goal is to use global standards to make Chinese airspace among the most effective in the world to meet demand safely and efficiently," he said.

He also urged China to join the IATA environment agenda to improve fuel efficiency, make air traffic management as efficient as possible and adopt global solutions for emissions trading.

China's air passenger transport grew by 15.9 percent year on year in the first quarter amid a surge in outbound travel.

Passenger transport volume reached 40.9 million, while travelers on international routes jumped by 23.9 percent to 3.8 million, official figures show.

The IATA estimates passenger numbers will grow by 9.6 percent annually until 2009 as China remains one of the fastest growing air markets.