Shanghai Airports Banned from Adding New Flights

By Lauren Hogan

Starting off your weekly news with one of the least surprising stories of the year: Shanghai airports marked for poor punctuality.

Shocking.

But due to their less-than-satisfactory record of flights leaving on time, Shanghai's two airports have been told they'll be unable to operate new, extra or charter flights within the next two months.

According to aviation regulations, a punctuality rate of over 50 percent must be maintained by domestic airports with an annual passenger volume of over 30 million.

Pudong flew in at a solid 38 percent in July, while Hongqiao ranks third from last with 44 percent last month. (Beijing maintained a just-barely-there 50 percent, while Guangzhou snuck in at 58 percent).

Air traffic congestion (re: military ops), weather (re: smog) and poor management (clearly) are the top three 'reasons' for flight delays according to the aviation adminstration.

Privileges will be returned to Shanghai once they can maintain their 50+ percent for two consecutive months say officials.

We reckon pigs have a better chance of being airborne before that happens.

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