Top Biz News

Late-night flights operate in China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-03-27 09:41

Sunday is the starting date of summer and autumn season of China's civil aviation schedule. And from now on, the operation of flights can be extend to late night.

Stimulated by market demands, China's aviation authority has finally lifted the ban on late-night flight, which was carried out in the past four years.

According to the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, flights can be run till 2:00 a.m. in domestic airports, and 4:00 a.m. in Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Six airports are allowed to open from 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. to international flights, regional flights and cargo flights.

Hearing the good news, experts from airports, airline companies, travel agencies, passengers and taxi drivers said it would boost the development of aviation market.

Late-night flights are also called red-eye flights as passengers seem rather sleepy as they get off the plane. They can help increase plane usage efficiency and reduce cost. Such flights came into being in the United States in 1959. In China, red-eye flights are mainly used in charter flights to tourism destinations. The price is only half of ordinary flights or even lower. Late-night flights are favored by passengers and airlines, but it was banned four years ago due to flight safety reasons.

During daytime, the slot time of China's three key airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou are all full. The resumption of late-night flights can help relieve the pressure on those airports. For example, Beijing international airport has added 100 more flights to its original 1,000 flights per day.

Red-eye flights gain more popularity with travel agencies because of low fares. For group travelers, such flights can save time and money. In the high season, such flights will offer more seats to passengers.

"Because of the red-eye flight ban, taxi drivers like me could hardly find passengers after 1:00 a.m.," said Huang Ming, a taxi driver. "We had to wait in the long queue for morning flights the next day."