The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) has issued a rule permanently lifting the ban on red-eye flights. All domestic airlines can prolong their flight take-off schedules to 2AM and those in Xinjiang can postpone their flights to 4AM.

Local media report that the purpose of CAAC in doing so is to prepare for the upcoming aviation midseason that starts in April and to give more time for airlines a chance arrange their lines and crew.

Air ticket agents say that for domestic lines, the red-eye flights do not have any advantage in time, but a lot of advantage in price because they are usually 20% cheaper than normal flights.

A representative from CAAC said that after the ban is lifted, each airline company will be asked to strictly carry out the schedule approved by CAAC and must not change it by themselves or fly overtime.

Also under the new rule, the flight capacity of such busy airports as those in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou will be limited for domestic lines.