Six domestic airlines will lower jet fuel surcharges to 40 yuan (US$5.86) from 50 yuan today on domestic routes for adult passengers who travel more than 800 kilometers while the fee will remain at 20 yuan for routes 800 kilometers or shorter.

Air China, Shenzhen Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Deer Air and Grand China Air are the first group to announce they would trim the surcharge after the National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planner, reduced the fees and jet fuel costs last Thursday.

The surcharge for passengers, including children paying half the adult fare and disabled soldiers, is 20 yuan per person if they fly longer than 800 kilometers and 10 yuan for traveling 800 kilometers or shorter, according to the carriers.

Infants do not have to pay the surcharge.

Tickets sold before today incurred the original surcharge. The date is determined by the time of printing the tickets.

The NDRC trimmed the domestic aviation fuel cost by 10 yuan per ton to 5,200 yuan from April 1 till the end of June and also lowered the ceiling of the jet fuel surcharge unit rate on domestic routes by 3.1 percent from April 1 till March 31, 2011.

Last year, it introduced a mechanism that links fuel fees on domestic air routes to movement in oil prices.