China's aviation regulator will offer 35 new direct routes across the country from today till the end of the year as it continues to try and ease pressure on domestic airlines.

The shorter routes will mainly link busy airports, including Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said in a statement on its Website yesterday. The move can help airlines save fuel costs and ease congestion at busy airports, according to the statement.

During the Spring Festival this year, the CAAC also opened direct routes to cope with rising demand. The routes saved more than 2,400 tons of fuel by cutting flying distances by 280,000 kilometers and helped reduce discharge of carbon dioxide by 7,600 tons.

The CAAC has carried out measures to boost the ailing market including waiving several taxes and injecting funds into state-owned carriers.

(Shanghai Daily March 12, 2009)