China's aviation industry authority may have Airport Construction Fees covered in airfares so that passengers won't need to pay them separately, Friday's Sina.com reported, citing an senior aviation official.

According to Yang Yuanyuan, director of Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC), the new policy may take effect within the year, a move to facilitate the boarding procedures. He declined to reveal the exact timetable of the new move.

Yang made these remarks Thursday after presenting a press conference held by the State Council, China's Cabinet.

Currently, air passengers in China must pay the Airport Construction Fees before boarding, with the charge rates varying nationally according to the flights and airports they use.

Income from the fee collection has become a key source for the fund pool to finance the nation's airport construction, industry analysts say.

Meanwhile, CAAC plans to cut down the rates of service charges at airport terminals to tune them into the international practice, Yang added.

He said the authority aims to have air companies or intermediary companies to manage the terminal service which it handles now.

(Eastday.com January 18, 2004)