International passenger volume within China is expected to continue thriving with a 7.1 percent compound annual growth rate.

The Middle East, with a healthy 6.3 percent compound annual growth rate, holds the strongest growth by region.

Connecting the two busiest regions, Qatar Airlines launched its new Hangzhou-Doha route last month.

"The fact that the Asia-Pacific region, led by China and the Middle East, will deliver the strongest growth over the forecast period is not surprising," says Tony Tyler, director general and CEO of the International Air Travel Association. "Governments in both areas recognize the value of the connectivity provided by aviation to drive global trade and development.

"To reap the benefit, governments in those regions will need to change their view of aviation from a luxury cash cow to a utilitarian, powerful draft horse to pull the economy forward."

But it's not business travelers seeking opportunity in the untouched corners of the world's second-largest economy who are calling for more international flights.

Increased interest in travel abroad from China's prospering middle-class has the airlines deliberating over how to take advantage of this new generation of vacationers.

In 2012, the number of outbound travelers from China was more than 80 million, prompting several European tourist boards to launch campaigns to draw in Chinese tourist pounds and euros. The number hit 97 million last year. Most of these travelers were from cities outside Beijing and Shanghai. It is in the second-tier cities where the real swelling of numbers is taking place.