Regulator hardens line to rectify plane delays

THE head of China's aviation regulator has pledged to be tougher on airlines to ensure flights depart on time, especially during the Beijing Olympics.

Airlines that have more than 50 percent of their flights delayed from July through September at airports in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and other major cities will have such routes suspended for that quarter, said Li Jiaxiang, the acting director of the General Administration of Civil Aviation, according to Xinhua news agency today.

Airlines and airports which are involved in major disputes over services will be disqualified for the industry's Excellence Titles in two years while previous credits will also be wiped out, Li, who was just appointed to the post, said at a conference yesterday in Beijing.

Beijing Capital International Airport will limit flights to 1,350 per day during the three months, providing leeway to ensure that visitors are not stuck on the tarmac, said Li, the former chairman of Air China Co, in the report.

Other airports in cities that will hold some Olympic events are required to reserve 15 percent of daily flights exclusively for the Beijing Games, Li added.

The performance of airlines and airports during the Olympics will be considered a principal index for work evaluations this year, Li noted.

The rules announced by Li also require airlines to keep one or two planes in reserve at Beijing and other airports receiving many Olympic visitors. Airlines will be banned from selling more tickets than seats on domestic flights from July through September, the report said.

The administration will deny business expansion applications for two years from airlines that log many complaints for chronic delays, bad service and lost luggage, Li said, according to Xinhua.

Passengers using China's rapidly expanding airways regularly face long delays, abrupt cancellations and surly staff. Seething passengers have sometimes fought back by refusing to leave aircraft until compensation is paid for lengthy delays.

The administration will also urge industry associations to step up supervision of plane ticket sales companies.

Air China Ltd, the official airline partner for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, has vowed to cut delays and improve employees' English language skills ahead of the Games.

In 2006, Beijing airport ranked 62nd in an Airports Council International survey of passenger satisfaction levels despite being the ninth busiest in the world in terms of passengers handled.

Beijing Capital International Airport, the busiest in the country, will open a third terminal in late February, a senior airport official said last year.