CHINA TOPIX

03/29/2024 09:30:23 am

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China's Aviation Watchdogs Call Hangzhou Airport One of Country's Worst Airports Ahead of G20 Summit

Hangzhou's Xiashan airport has been ranked as one of the worst airports in the country by China's aviation watchdogs.

(Photo : Getty Images) Hangzhou's Xiashan airport has been ranked as one of the worst airports in the country by China's aviation watchdogs.

Aviation authorities have slammed Hangzhou airport as one of China's worst managed airports in the country, just days before the G20 summit kicks off in the eastern Chinese city.

Hangzhou Xiashan airport was one of four airports that were criticized by the Civil Aviation Administration las week and has been prohibited from any getting additional flights, routes or charters for two months. The other four airports included Shanghai's Pudong, Shanghai's Hongqiao and Lukou airport in Nanjing, according to Shanghai Daily.

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The above-mentioned airports came in the last four spots according to a recent ranking of nationwide airports. China's aviation authority has beefed up efforts to address issues such as flight punctuality by imposing penalties on worst performing airports and airlines over the last few months following widespread complaints from travellers.

Authorities say that the tightening of aviation regulations has already started showing results. Flight punctuality in July was more than 73 percent, an increase from the 68 percent recorded during the same time in 2015 and 2014, which was the lowest-ever flight-on-time rate registered since the data was publicly available in 2006, according to the South China Morning Post.

Aviation regulations require domestic airports with annual passenger volumes of more than 30 million to maintain a punctuality rate of more than 50 percent. Shanghai's Pudong airport was singled out as the worst performer among all major airports with a flight-on-time rate of only 38 percent in July.

The ban on normal privileges on these airports will be lifted once the target of 50 percent is met by the airports for two consecutive months, according to officials.

Air traffic congestion, weather and poor management are some of the main reasons for flight delay and cancellation, said the administration.

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