Chinese airlines to cut fuel surcharges

BEIJING - Chinese airlines will cut fuel surcharges for domestic flights due to a decline in fuel prices, airlines announced Sunday.

Starting from Jan 5, major airlines, including Shandong Airlines and Xiamen Airlines, announced that surcharges for domestic routes of 800 kilometers or less will be reduced to 10 yuan ($1.63) from the current 30 yuan.

The surcharges for routes longer than 800 km will be cut to 30 yuan from 60 yuan.

It is the fifth time Chinese airlines have cut fuel surcharges since September 2014 and prices are now at a five-year low.

China has cut the retail prices of gasoline and diesel ten times since July 2014 in line with reductions in the prices of crude oil.