Aircraft maker Airbus Group revealed on Tuesday its 20-year forecast for China's aircraft demand, with the country estimated to need about 6,000 aircraft worth $945 billion, the company said at the Zhuhai air show.

The European aircraft maker increased its previous prediction by nearly 500 more aircraft, thanks to the growing demand of air travel from China's middle class, with overall air traffic growth of more than 500 percent between 2000 and 2014.

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Airbus said it is anticipating a total demand of 5,970 passenger jets from China in the next two decades, including 4,230 medium-haul, single aisle jets such as its A320 or Boeing Co's 737, according to Reuters.

By that time, China will top not only the aircraft market but also the air traffic source, the company said during its 2016-2035 Global Market Forecast.

"Domestic passenger traffic in mainland China has quadrupled over the last 10 years and is set to become the world's number one aviation market," John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operation Officer Customers, said.

China accounts for about 25 percent of Airbus's sales, with 158 units delivered to China in 2015. Its market for international air travel is forecasted to increase at an average of 6.7 percent every year for the next two decades, Airbus said as reported by the Economic Times.

Airbus and Boeing are in a head-to-head competition for China market share. Boeing also announced its plan to set up a completion facility and delivery center in China for its highly demanded 737 jetliners. The finishing facility is a joint venture between Boeing and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, while the delivery center is solely owned by the company.

The move aims not only to increase its 737 production capacity but also prevent layoffs or reduce employment for the 737 Program.

TagsAirbus, Boeing, AIR TRAVEL, Airshow China 2016, Airbus A320, Comac, china