CHANGCHUN — China has had 239 general aviation airports, 460 general aviation companies and 2,562 general aircraft by the end of June, said the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on Oct 17.

Liu Chunchen, director of the CAAC's airport division, said rising demands for short-haul transportation, sightseeing by air and emergency medical services had prompted the development of the general aviation industry in China.

In 2018, more than 100 Chinese enterprises launched air tours, carrying nearly 180,000 passengers.

In recent years, the booming drone industry has injected new impetus into the development of China's general aviation businesses, according to Liu.

By the end of 2018, China had 300,000 registered drones of more than 3,300 models, produced by more than 1,200 manufacturers.