NAIROBI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the global trade association representing airlines, said on Tuesday that Chinese-made aircraft are expected to boost the aviation sector.

Willie Walsh, director general of the IATA, told Xinhua in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi that Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. is producing efficient and modern airplanes that are a viable alternative to those currently in operation worldwide.

"Chinese-made aircraft are expected to introduce competition in the airplane market and hence offer the airline industry more affordable acquisition costs," Walsh said on the sidelines of the IATA Ground Handling Conference.

"The Chinese-made planes are principally flying in China and in neighboring Asian nations that accept Chinese certification," he said.

The three-day meeting brought together airlines and policymakers from around the world to discuss solutions to strengthen the global aviation ecosystem. ■