China opens new airway connecting Asia and Europe

A NEW air navigation channel for flights between Europe and Asia has been inaugurated, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has reported.

Xinhua News Agency cited the recent news posted by CAAC that the navigation route starts from a point which is 300 kilometres to the north of Chengdu in western China's Sichuan province, and passes the Animaqing mountains, the Chaidam Basin, the Aerjin mountains and the Tarim Basin to reach Kuche in Xinjiang, thus linking Europe to Guangzhou and Hong Kong. This is an additional international route to the two existing Europe-Asia routes.

The navigation route has been in operation since April 13. Several air carriers are now applying to fly the new route, where traffic flow is expected to grow rapidly in the near future.

According to CAAC, advanced aeronautical technology will be used on the navigation route to heighten the safety level of planes flying above plateau areas. The travelling distance between major cities on the two continents will also be cut down with the new route, which saves carriers fuel and creates the conditions for them to become more efficient.