Domestic flights slashed at Beijing International airport

Nicole Mezzasalma

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China’s Civil Aviation Authority won’t grant approval to new Chinese carriers for service until 2010

A total of 336 domestic flights to and from Beijing Capital International airport will (BCIA) be scrapped until October 27. Chinese carriers will also not be granted new licences to operate into or out of the airport until 2010 as the authority tries to limit growth at the saturated facility while it increases air safety.

The number of peak hour flights at BCIA will be reduced from more than 60 to 58 every hour. In a second stage of cuts, between November and March 2008, that amount will be limited further to 55 every hour while still leaving a minute between each flight. The Civil Aviation Authority of China statement said that most flights to be cancelled are operated by China’s largest carriers: Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines.

The measure is intended to prevent long delays when Beijing hosts the 2008 Olympic Games next August, according to the statement. It added that 18 airports—including BCIA, Shaghain Honggia, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Dalian and Urumqi—have been operating at their maximum capacity.

China’s air transport industry is growing at an average annual rate of over 16%. BCIA handled 26m passenger in the first half of 2007, and full year figures should surpass its designed annual capacity of 35m passengers.