The airport construction fee, which travelers have to pay separately before boarding a flight, will be included in airfares by the end of the year, the Beijing Times said Thursday, quoting sources from China's aviation watchdog.

The newspaper also said the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) had drafted a circular that had yet to be distributed for the new fee to become effective.

According to the circular, the sum of the airport construction fee would depend on the journey and type of aircraft, contrary to the current practice where travelers are charged a uniform fee.

CAAC sources told the paper that the plan had some technical difficulties but they expected to introduce the new fee by the end of the year.

The new concept is expected to make air travel more convenient although different fees for different journeys could cause some controversy.

 (Shenzhen Daily July 16, 2004)