Doubles Available Flight Levels For Commercial Planes

This week, China agreed to open up restricted airspace for civilian use ahead of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.

The Wall Street Journal reports Chinese military authorities -- who control that nation's air traffic control system -- implemented procedures last week effectively doubling the number of flight levels available for civilian flights. The change brings the number of flight levels allowed for civilian use to 13, from seven, between 28,000 feet and 41,000 feet.

Before the changes, the military allocated 30 percent of airspace for passenger planes... making China one of the most restrictive countries not only in politics and civil freedoms, but also aviation.

China's General Administration of Civil Aviation said the regulations will "greatly reduce the air and ground delays caused by the shortage of usable layers, increase air-traffic flow, improve flight-traffic jams and flight delays, and raise the efficiency of civil aviation."

As China's aviation industry has grown, and more people take to the skies for leisure and business travel, the country's air traffic control system has faced a surge in congestion, as well. Flight delays are already common... and often occur without explanation.

Last Tuesday, airspace controls were imposed over eastern China without clear reason.... disrupting over 150 flights in Shanghai, affecting 7,000 passengers in the first two days, according to state media.

That already-congested airspace will only become even more so next summer, as the country prepares for the Olympics in August. Two million domestic and international visitors are expected in the capital alone, according to the WSJ.

The government also plans to add a new legal holiday for residents -- bringing the total to 11 -- which will also likely increase demand for airline travel.

FMI: http://en.carnoc.com/