New aviation measures announced for Olympics

The aviation regulator has stopped flight approvals for most new airlines until 2010 and cut the number of Beijing's daily flights to reduce congestion ahead of the Olympics, the Financial Times reported. On August 15, the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) told domestic airlines to cut 48 daily flights in and out of Beijing immediately. It also told the "big three" state carriers – Air China, China Eastern and China Southern – to expect more reductions in routes. However, the CAAC said exemptions would be made for airlines that use Chinese-made regional jets, which are currently under development; freight airlines and firms that employ mostly foreign pilots; night flights; and routes to China's western and northeastern regions.