Chinese airlines have been among the first to feel the pain as the
central government gradually tightens control over trans-provincial
passenger flows due to the spread of severe acute respiratory
syndrome (
SARS).
The airlines have experienced very low seat-occupancy rates since
last month, and many of them have cut some of their regular flights
to save on costs.
Wang Yongsheng, director of Air China's publicity department, said
on Friday that the airline cut at least half of its regular flights
during the May Day holidays, a traditional transport peak, because
of the huge drop in the number of passengers.
Based in Beijing, Air China runs most of the international flights
into and out of China. But, as more and more countries worldwide
are restricting the issuing of visas to Chinese citizens, the
formerly lucrative international transport business has now turned
out to be a money-losing one.
Since March Air China has cut 2,100 flights and affected routes to
63 countries and regions. Wang said Air China's losses were
considerable.
Outside Beijing, the Shanghai-based China Eastern Aviation Group
has also failed to escape the impact of the industry setback.
Zhang Ming, a spokesman for the airline, said nearly 70 per cent of
seats in its planes were empty, while almost half of the
traditional "golden'' routes to Europe, Japan and Southeast Asia
were cut.
The airline has cut more than 2,900 flights since March. Its major
domestic flights to SARS-affected cities, such as Beijing,
Guangzhou and Taiyuan, were also severely cut.
The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), the
industry regulator, issued an urgent notice banning the suspension
of any particular air routes, fearing that domestic airlines would
stop certain routes entirely.
CAAC suggested that airlines fly smaller jets or cut route
frequencies to reduce operational costs. However, the complete
cessation of particular air routes without the administration's
permission is absolutely unacceptable. It said violators would be
severely punished, including through the cancellation of their
certificates to fly such air routes in the future.
On
the ground, the Ministry of Railways arranged more cargo trains
last month as the fear of SARS discouraged passengers from
traveling by rail.
Figures released by the ministry showed that the amount of cargo
transported increased by 5 per cent last month compared with April
2002.
Sources said the ministry would arrange more cargo trains this
month and in June if passenger demand remains low. This way, the
sources said, the industry could still maintain a balanced
income.
Road transport has remained normal outside the regions most
severely affected by SARS.
The Ministry of Communications has ordered local road
administrators to increase their monitoring of vehicles traveling
into and out of SARS-affected regions and to make sure the SARS
virus is not imported through road transport.
(China Daily May 10, 2003)