<article><p class="lead">China's airlines are starting to resume some previously suspended flights in a short-term boost for domestic jet fuel demand, as some Chinese cities reduce the number of higher risk Covid-19 regions to medium or low risk. </p><p>Chinese airlines are hoping to regain lost revenue in an abrupt end to the peak summer travel season after a resurgence in Covid-19 cases from July curbed travel demand.</p><p>Air China plans to resume flights between Beijing Capital International and Zhejiang province's Ningbo Lishe International airports from today after a two-week suspension. The Beijing-Ningbo route is one of the busiest for the Lishe airport. China Southern, Hebei Airlines and low-cost carrier China United Airlines also plan to resume flights from Beijing's other international airport Daxing from today. </p><p>China as of yesterday had four high-risk regions and 54 medium-risk regions, with one high-risk region adjusted to medium risk. Chinese authorities also adjusted five high-risk and 10 medium-risk regions to low-risk regions. The four high-risk regions are in certain districts in Yunnan, Jiangsu and Henan provinces. The risks rated regions provide a guide for authorities to implement Covid-19 control measures. </p><p>The Guangling and Hanjiang districts in Yangzhou, Jiangsu have adjusted from medium to low risk this week, leaving Yangzhou with only one high-risk region but Yangzhou still has 23 medium-risk regions as of yesterday. The initial surge in Covid-19 cases were linked to an airport in Nanjing, also in Jiangsu. China reported <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2246771">no locally transmitted cases in a single day on 23 August</a> for the first time since July, marking an initial victory over the latest resurgence in cases. </p><p>China may still contribute to international flight recovery this year despite the recent resurgence in Covid-19 cases. China this week saw major airlines adding back more seats capacity with China Eastern leading the recovery with over 23pc capacity growth from a week earlier, according to a report yesterday by flight data provider OAG. </p><p>China Eastern is planning to operate several flights out of Qingdao's new Jiaodong airport that opened on 12 August. Chinese state-controlled Sinopec's 200,000 b/d Qingdao refinery boosted jet fuel supplies to the new airport this month. </p><p>But this week's latest schedule changes through to the end of October saw another 18mn seats removed by airlines around the world as demand softens, according to OAG. Key markets such as China, US and Europe continue to impose entry restrictions for international travellers. Australia, the worst affected, saw an airline seat capacity cut this week of another 22pc from a week earlier. </p></article>
