Beijing to restrict flights around Sept 3 parade

BEIJING - Beijing will implement temporary air traffic controls on Sept 3, when a military parade is scheduled to take place in the city, China's top aviation regulator said on Saturday.

Between 9:30 am and 12:30 pm that day, the city's two airports -- Beijing Capital International Airport and the smaller Nanyuan Airport -- will be closed, according to the Air Traffic Management Bureau of the Civil Aviation Administration of China.

The authority said that many airlines have already canceled both outbound and inbound flights during the time frame.

Beijing will also ban aerial activities involving light-weight helicopters, gliders, hot air balloons and aerostats between Aug 22 and Sept 4.

China has scheduled a series of events to mark the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War Against Japanese Aggression, culminating in a military parade on Sept 3 in Beijing.