China's only budget airline Spring Airlines has abandoned a plan to charge passengers for check-in or carry-on baggage exceeding 5 kg, an airline spokesman said on Thursday.

Zhang Lei, spokesman for the Shanghai-based airline, said the company had abandoned its plan to slash its baggage limit from 15 kg to five kg because most passengers would not accept such a limit.

"We had such a plan to charge passengers for check-in or carry-on baggage exceeding 5 kg, and we contacted officials with the air transport authority. But now we have decided to give up the plan since most passengers will not accept it," Zhang said.

Earlier in the day, the English language newspaper China Daily reported Spring Airlines had applied to the air transport authority to start charging passengers for check-in or carry-on baggage exceeding 5 kg.

The airline said such a plan was aimed to help the airline to save fuel, which accounted for about 50 percent of its operating costs, according to the daily.

Major Chinese airlines allow a standard 20-kg baggage allowance in accordance with Civil Aviation Administration of China regulations. Spring Airlines had already cut baggage allowance from 20 kg to 15 kg.

China's private and state-owned airlines are feeling the pinch amid weakening demand and rising costs. Carriers are trying to find ways to keep costs down as they brace for an expected downturn in the aviation industry.

(Xinhua News Agency September 4, 2008)