China's civil aviation industry reaped 17 billion yuan (2.32 billion U.S. dollars) in profits in the first 11 months of 2007, up 74 percent year-on-year, the General Administration of Civil Aviation (CAAC) said here Thursday.

Of the total profits, airlines and airports contributed 11.3 billion yuan and 3.9 billion yuan, up 104 percent and 31 percent, respectively, said Li Jiaxiang, deputy head of the CAAC

Aviation-related companies also made 1.8 billion yuan in profits, up 44 percent.

He estimated that total passengers handled by the industry might hit 385 million in 2007, up 16 percent over a year ago.

(Xinhua News Agency January 11, 2008)