CAAC introduces new policy on airport slot allocation for cargo flights

China has adopted a new policy on airport slot allocation for cargo flights to boost the country's air logistics industry.

It is the first slot allocation policy specifically designed for cargo flights, and will be implemented starting from Oct 25, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The new policy is aimed at increasing the daily utilization of cargo airplanes and airport facilities, improving China's international air cargo capacity, and strengthening the competitiveness of its aviation logistics sector.

It is drafted in accordance with the functional orientations of various airports, and their supply-and-demand status of flight schedules, the CAAC said.

The policy calls on airports to implement slot allocation for cargo flights in classified, quantitative and differentiated ways. It takes into consideration the differences in flight densities, passenger and cargo flights, as well as scheduled and nonscheduled flights among various airports.

According to the CAAC, optimizing the flight schedules would greatly improve timetables for cargo flights.