BEIJING — China’s civil aviation sector saw improved safety in flights, according to a senior official in charge on Jan 1.

Chinese civil aircraft have completed 3.62 million safe flights for a total of 8.46 million hours, up 7.4 percent and 10.8 percent year on year respectively, according to Li Jian, deputy head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The frequency of severe aircraft incidents and incidents triggered by human activity dropped 59 percent and 17.6 percent year on year respectively, Li added.

China Southern Airlines, among others, maintained the best domestic civil aviation safety record, with safe flights totaling 15.26 million hours by the end of 2015.