China plans measures to tackle flight delays
Almasalla Arab Travel Portal News – China is taking a range of measures to tackle the growing problem of airspace congestion and flight delays.
According to data from the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the country experienced its worst punctuality rate for five years in 2012, with just 74.83% of aircraft leaving on time. This is mainly due to airspace congestion in China’s increasingly crowded skies.
To improve airlines on-time performance, the CAAC has unveiled a series of new measures to ease airport congestion. The new standard practice requires carriers complete a specific ground handling process in a given timeframe.
For example, carriers should start passengers check-in 90 minutes before the departure of a domestic flight and 120 minutes before an international flight. Also airline will also to provide shuttle bus services if passengers have to walk more than 100 metres to board a plane.
These are the latest measures introduced by the CAAC to ease air traffic congestion. Earlier this year, CAAC rerouted flights originating in northeast China to avoid the airspace over Beijing, in an effort to ease congestion at Beijing Capital International Airport.
In addition, the authority eased traffic control measures over eight of China’s busiest airports in cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu and Guangzhou.
