China agrees to new route to cut flight times

China agrees to new route to cut flight times    The Chinese Government has approved a new international flight route over the country that will potentially reduce flight times between China and Europe by an average of 30 minutes.
   The Y-1 route, also known as IATA-1, covers Sadan to Ombon and is an alternative to L888 just north of the Himalaya Mountains. Airlines using L888 need to be specially retrofitted for the high terrain with additional oxygen equipment while the Y-1 (IATA-1) route does not require similar special equipment.
   The Y-1 (IATA-1) route is expected to be opened Thursday with provision for an initial 110 flights a week.
   The Geneva-based International Air Transport Association anticipates that the new route will eliminate 2,860 hours of flight time, 27,000 tons of fuel consumption, 84,800 tons of carbon dioxide emission, and 340,000 kilograms of nitrogen oxides emission annually.
   “IATA-1 will result in $30 million in savings on the airlines fuel bill. We appreciate the cooperation of the Chinese government in making airspace more efficient at a time where the airline industry is bleeding red ink from the record high price of oil,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s director general and chief executive officer.
   Only 30 percent of Chinese airspace is available for civil aviation.