CAAC to allocate more slots at Beijing Capital to foreign airlines

CAAC stated Beijing Capital Airport will allocate more slots to foreign airlines, with CAAC Director of Slot Management for the North China Regional Administration, He Yan, adding that the slot-distribution system will go online in Aug-2010 (chinaeconomicreview/China Daily, 29-Jul-2010). At present, 24 foreign airlines are applying for 27 slots at the airport, with CAAC adding that it is considering moving some domestic services to Shijiazhuang, Hebei, to alleviate the pressure. Passengers will then be able to travel for free between Shijiazhuang and Beijing on the new 40-minute high-speed rail link, which is scheduled for completion shortly. The moves are part of efforts to increase transparency and build Beijing Capital as a key Asia Pacific regional hub, meaning the percentage of international services at the airport needs to increase from the current 20% to 50%.