(Yicai Global) Oct. 18 -- China's civil aviation industry grew in line with expectations during the first three quarters and is set to meet the target set at the start of the year, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said in a press briefing yesterday.

The sector transported 409 million passengers and 5.1 million tons of cargo in the first nine months, representing annual increases of 12.5 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively. Both of these statistics are above the targeted levels set at the start of the year.

For the full year, the industry is expected to transport 549 million passengers and 7.12 million tons of goods, state-run China News Service reported.

Some 4.67 million and 4.54 million international travelers flew between China and North America and between China and Europe, respectively, during the period, up 15.9 percent and 19.8 percent from the previous year. The number of passengers flying between China and South Korea slumped 34.5 percent.

Some 1.59 million tons of cargo were transported via international routes, marking growth of 14.3 percent from a year ago, while domestic freight traffic rose 11.1 percent.

China had 227 civil airports, 3,177 registered transport aircraft and 2,237 registered general purpose aircraft as of late September.