(Yicai Global) March 2 -- China's civil aviation capacity could surpass that of the United States to lead the world by 2035 as it looks to enhance infrastructure construction and promote efficient transport services, according to the sector's top official.

Feng Zhenglin, head of the Civil Aviation Administration of China, plans for air traffic volume to hit 1.4 billion passengers through 400 airports within the next 17 years.

The country's transport volume shot up 13 percent to 552 million passengers last year, he said, adding that CAAC data shows China has trailed the US to rank second in the world for the past 13 years.

However, there is much more room for China's civil aviation sector to expand, Feng added. The US transported 928 million passengers via 540 commercial airports in 2016, while China is carrying almost 60 percent as many passengers with less than 40 percent as many airports.

China has plenty of space to develop aviation infrastructure, said Prof. Li Xiaojin from the Civil Aviation University of China. It also has a more extensive high-speed rail system than the US and its population is more concentrated, mostly in the eastern coastal area, he added. This affects the travel choices of dwellers in each country.

The key direction for China's aviation sector is international travel and short- to medium-length regional routes, Li added. Rail links can't replace international flights, and short-haul journeys can boost local tourism and regional economies, which will be important for maintaining stability in border areas.