Fueling Demand.

This article reports that as passenger and cargo traffic continues what has been the airline industry's greatest sustained boom, the Asia-Pacific region's major hubs are restructuring in response to new competitive pressures. Markets are shifting for long-standing hubs such as Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok. But it's the continuing expansion of China's economy, now 30% of Asia's total output that remains the big news, as it has for a decade. Long the provenance of United Airlines and Northwest Airlines, China trade is now being sought by Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and Continental Airlines. Safety concerns caused China to curtail airline expansion a decade ago while it focused on crew training and regional and international airport growth. Until recently, Hong Kong's Cathay Pacific left the China market to Dragonair, an affiliated regional carrier that has grown more independent since Hong Kong became part of China.