Flight delays are a common irritant the world over. In China, the problem has been getting worse in recent years. According to the latest statistics released by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, the punctuality rate last year was below seventy-five percent; the lowest rate in five years.

With a view to improve the situation, the government has come up with a new plan that is being trialled at eight airports.

"In the past the plane had to wait in a long queue to take off. One time I waited for seven hours. It's pretty good we have a new policy," a passanger said.

Cui Jianqiang, Deputy Director of the Management Center of the General Administraion of Civil Aviation, has said that a new policy in effect from July the 18 will tackle the problem of flight delays.

As per the policy, flights will no longer be kept waiting on the ground hoping for landing slots to clear up in the destination airport. They will instead take off for their destinations as per their flight schedules and circle around the destination airport if need be, waiting for a landing slot to open up.

Earlier, flights wouldn't be allowed to take-off if landing slots weren't available at the destination airport.

(CNTV.cn July 31, 2013)