China is expected to be the world's fastest-growing market for air travel.

The Chinese air passenger market, which numbered 21.9 million people in 2003, is forecast to turn in an average annual growth of 12.5 percent until 2008, the International Air Transport Association said in its year-end report.

"China will lead the global economic expansion for the foreseeable future, which will generate significant long-haul business traffic to and from North America," IATA said.