BEIJING — China's civil aviation industry had maintained 118 months of continuous safe flight operations by June, according to the country's civil aviation authorities.

The figures were released by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), which said the industry had continued to maintain stable operations in the first half.

As of June, the country's civil air transport sector had realized 84.16 million flight hours of continuous safe operations.

In the first half, the sector realized around 3.48 million flight hours, down 42.4 percent year-on-year.

China's civil aviation industry achieved its stellar safety performance thanks to the persistent efforts of both authorities and carriers in the supervision, control and operation of safety measures.

The civil aviation industry has experienced an industry-wide downturn due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has led to a sharp decline in air travel demand but explosive air cargo demand worldwide. Many global carriers have repurposed passenger aircraft to carry cargo, especially medical and other emergency supplies.

In April, the CAAC issued a notice concerning operational safety for passenger aircraft on cargo flights, amid increasing air transport of anti-pandemic supplies.

The notice was issued to ensure the safety of their operations in accordance with regulations and public interest. It guides carriers to ensure the safe operation of their passenger airplanes for cargo flights, according to the CAAC.

The country's civil transport sector is speeding up its recovery as the anti-pandemic fight enters the regular epidemic prevention and control phase.

Air traffic control authorities and all sectors of the industry should continuously enhance their efficiency amid the challenges faced in restoring air traffic flow, according to the CAAC.