China's civil aviation authority yesterday announced that the recent flight delays were caused by military drills.

Delays and cancellations will continue to affect airports in Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Zhengzhou and Qingdao until the end of the month due to "routine military maneuvers" as well as the stormy weather, the Civil Aviation Administration of China said on its website.

To help offset the impact of the drills, new routes will be opened to civil aircraft, which will allow pilots to detour restricted areas, it said.

"We hope people will understand and give us their support," it said.

Despite the promise of alternative routes, the administration said it has asked domestic airlines to limit the number of flights they operate through the restricted areas. It also told carriers to inform passengers about delays as early as possible, and to assist them as necessary with altering flight plans and claiming refunds.

For their part, passengers should contact their carrier before traveling to the airport to avoid being stranded, the statement said.

Air traffic restrictions have caused havoc across eastern China this month, with Shanghai's two airports among the worst affected.

On Monday, almost 200 flights from Shanghai were canceled, while 120 were delayed for more than two hours. Yesterday, about 170 flights were delayed.

An attempt by China Eastern to explain the delays by saying "other users" had "occupied the air space" were met with laughs of derision.

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