Official statistics show passenger numbers throughout the country dropped by 81.2 percent in the first ten days of this month, compared with the same time last year, according to Friday's China Daily.

In addition to the year-on-year seven percent drop in April, industry analysts said most domestic airlines had already been dragged into heavy deficit this year.

As one of the strongest signs of troubled times, it is claimed three major domestic carriers, Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, will delay the delivery of new aircrafts.

Sources said they may not take the delivery of 39 new planes this year and the delivery schedule, which has cut off point of 2005, is still being discussed.

(Xinhua News Agency May 16, 2003)