BEIJING - China's civil aviation sector posted strong growth in passenger trips and cargo transportation in 2016, official data showed Monday.

Air passenger trips rose 11.8 percent year on year to 487.8 million last year, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

That growth was faster than the 11.3 percent increase recorded in 2015 and the annual average rate of 10.4 percent between 2010 and 2015.

Passenger trips made on domestic routes increased 10.7 percent year on year to 436 million in 2016, while those made on international routes surged 22.7 percent to 51.6 million.

During the same period, cargo and mail transportation reached 6.7 million tons, up 6 percent year on year.

China ranks second in the world in terms of passenger and cargo turnover by air, behind the United States.

The country aims to build 44 new airports and complete construction of 30 airports in the 2016-2020 period, most in the mid-west regions, according to a plan released by the CAAC last week.