Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Co, controlled by Swire Pacific, boosted first-half profit 8 percent as rising air travel in China spurred demand for airplane maintenance.

Net income rose to HK$591 million, or HK$3.55 a share, from HK$548 million, or HK$3.29, a year earlier, the Hong Kong-based company said in a statement to the stock exchange. Sales climbed to almost HK$2.5 billion from HK$2.23 billion.