China’s Demand May Become Factor

Meanwhile, the demand for jet fuel in China is expected to nearly double by 2010, China Watch reported last week. At a recent China-U.S. workshop on aviation fuel, experts said China’s jet-fuel consumption has increased at an average annual rate of about 15 percent since the 1990s. Chinese airlines are feeling the impact of rising fuel prices and have imposed surcharges for passengers and implemented fuel-saving strategies such as more direct flights, higher cruise altitudes and stricter controls on baggage weight. China’s growth is also having an impact in the U.S. In southern California, air traffic from Asia is expected to triple by 2030, the North County Times reported on Saturday. But to benefit from that opportunity, the region needs to expand its infrastructure, adding runways and perhaps new airports, officials said.