2023届高考英语三轮复习·冲刺押题·外刊阅读理解训练 (54)

2023届高考英语三轮复习·冲刺押题 外刊阅读理解训练54 ——改编自Dragons Fly 【文章】 China has become a major player in the global aviation market with its airlines rapidly climbing up the world rankings. The number of passengers taking flights in China has increased drastically, and it is predicted to become the world's biggest aviation market in the coming years. Chinese carriers are also forecasted to buy more jets than American ones in the next two decades, according to Airbus and Boeing. Chinese airlines used to struggle with delays, accidents, and unsatisfactory food quality, causing many passengers to avoid them. However, after making concerted efforts to improve their standards, Chinese carriers are now winning flyers over, expanding their seat proportion on international routes. The threat to established airlines goes beyond just losing the battle to fly people in and out of China. Chinese airlines are turning themselves into connectors, similar to how Gulf airlines connect international passengers through their Middle Eastern hubs. The cheapest way to travel from London to Australia is no longer via Dubai or Abu Dhabi but through Guangzhou, Shanghai, or Wuhan. The Chinese authorities have loosened visa requirements to encourage this kind of transfer traffic. The rise of China's aviation industry has generated two responses from Western carriers, both predictable and detrimental. European airlines are complaining about government aid, just like they did when the Gulf airlines became a threat. Air France-KLM and Lufthansa argue that they are victims of unfair trade, lobbying for rules that would enable the European Union to place unilateral sanctions on subsidised foreign rivals, including Chinese carriers before any investigation concludes. Meanwhile, American carriers are pushing for an open-skies treaty allowing airlines to fly between any airport in the two countries. Passengers could gain much from an open-skies deal, although they can also lead to higher prices due to joint ventures