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China to tighten security at more than 20 airportsTuesday, 8th July 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
Travelers seeking to take advantage of the recent low air ticket prices for many domestic flights in China may want to consider arriving at the airport a little earlier than normal after July 20. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) announced yesterday that beginning July 20, travelers passing through more than 20 mainland airports will be subjected to an additional layer of security checks before boarding their flights. In addition to security checks before entering airport waiting halls, there will also be new security checkpoints immediately prior to boarding. Unsurprisingly, the official reasoning behind the tightening of airport security is Olympics-related. According to a China Daily report: "The special measure is aimed at raising the security level at the airports and preventing anyone from carrying explosives, inflammables or other materials that can be used to disrupt the Beijing Olympic Games, the CAAC said." "Suspects will have to go through thorough security checks, and people caught carrying such materials will be dealt with strictly in accordance with the law." Airports which will implement the secondary security checkpoints include Beijing Capital International Airport, Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports, plus airports in Qingdao, Tianjin, Shenyang, Qinhuangdao, Shijiazhuang, Taiyuan, Jinan, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Hefei, Changchun, Harbin, Dalian and Hohhot. Furthermore, all civilian airports in the restive regions of Tibet and Xinjiang will also add the new security checks. Although Kunming Wujiaba International Airport is not on the list, it is quite likely that security will tighten noticeably in the runup to and during the Olympics. Image: news.anhuinews.com Related article: China's domestic travel slump = cheap domestic flights Tags: aviation, CAAC, Olympics, security, travel Yunnan Airlines to challenge China Eastern for market shareWednesday, 11th June 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
The Yunnan provincial government and Grand China Air – which is partially owned by billionaire financier George Soros – have agreed to establish Yunnan Airlines, a joint venture airline that will challenge China Eastern Airlines' dominance of the Yunnan air travel market, according to a Reuters report. The announcement comes at a time when air travel in Yunnan and elsewhere in southwest China is expected to continue its rapid growth and Kunming is building what will be one of China's largest airports. The news also came shortly after state regulatory body the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) stripped Shanghai-based China Eastern of several air routes in Yunnan – including flights to Dali and Xishuangbanna – after an apparent mid-air strike by pilots in March of this year. The company is still awaiting regulatory approval from the central government - which is likely, given that a provincial government will be a stakeholder in the company. Despite the potential conflict of interest, the Yunnan government released a statement in which it said that in addition to Yunnan Airlines' plans to establish its hub in Kunming it hopes that other airlines including China Eastern's Yunnan subsidiary will further develop their operations in Kunming, according to a Xinhua report. Xinhua is reporting that Yunnan Airlines will start out with a fleet of at least 30 planes. Image: Xinhua Related articles: China Eastern loses Xishuangbanna, Dali routes China Eastern fires Yunnan management over pilot demonstration China Eastern officials, pilots meet after Kunming protest Tags: aviation, business, CAAC, China Eastern Airlines, transportation, Yunnan Airlines
With Chinese New Year just around the corner – this year it lands on February 7 – China is preparing for a major surge in domestic travel. At the beginning of next month, millions of students, soldiers, workers and businesspeople throughout the country will meet up with family and friends to celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring. More than 22 million air passengers are expected to fly China's skies this holiday - which is known in China as Spring Festival. The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) has announced that it might add temporary domestic flight routes to handle the spike in air travel. CAAC said it will 'strictly control' air traffic in Kunming's Wujiaba International Airport plus other major airports in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu to ensure everything goes smoothly during the holiday. Air travel may be increasingly popular with Chinese travelers, but the majority of people returning home will get where they're going via China's extensive rail network. China's Ministry of Railways is expecting nearly 179 million rail travelers – almost the population of Brazil – this holiday season. The ministry is adding 311 trains to the normal national rail schedule to absorb the increase in travelers. Kunming's main rail station is anticipating a major influx in ticket buyers this month, to address the demand for train tickets it is building 40 temporary ticket windows in front of the station. The windows will sell tickets 24 hours a day beginning Wednesday of this week and lasting through the holiday. Aside from increased travel, the Chinese New Year season is also a time for higher food and drink prices as a large percentage of China's billion-plus population spend the holidays focused on eating and drinking. This year rising food prices are putting more pressure on holiday budgets than usual. Even beer as well as baijiu and other traditional Chinese wines spirits are feeling the bite of inflation as alcohol prices in China are experiencing unprecedented price hikes, blamed on rising costs for grain, coal and transport. Image: clzg.cn Tags: Beijing, CAAC, Chengdu, Chinese New Year, Guangzhou, Shanghai, trains, travel |
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