(Yicai Global) Nov. 11 -- China’s cabinet has scrapped the 'circuit breaker' mechanism for inbound flights and shortened the quarantine period by two days, it announced in a statement released today.

After the news, tourism platform Qunar saw an instant surge in the search volume for overseas plane tickets, rising to the highest level in nearly a year. By 2 p.m., the platform's real-time search volume had quadrupled from that of Nov. 10 and was still climbing. 

Aviation stocks also gained when trading resumed in the afternoon. China Express Airlines [SHE:002928] closed up 4.5 percent at CNY12.96 (USD1.8), China Eastern Airlines [SHA:600115] gained 1.1 percent to CNY5.33 (USD0.7), and China Southern Airlines [SHA:600029] ended 0.1 percent higher at CNY7.43. 

Overseas ticket bookings are likely to continue to increase thanks to the policy adjustments, with reservations for some international routes set to double next month, Qunar said. 

Besides cancelling the ‘circuit breaker' for inbound flights, the government now requires just one negative PCR test within 48 hours before boarding, instead of two. And inbound travelers now need to quarantine for five days in government-approved accommodation -- down from seven -- and another three days at home. 

The latest changes will promote international business exchanges and help reduce airline losses as it will boost demand for international travel, Lin Zhijie, a civil aviation expert, told Yicai Global. 

In August, the Chinese government began a gradual increase of domestic and international passenger flights and also took steps to facilitate entry and exit for people working in overseas businesses. The National Development and Reform Commission and other agencies also worked on facilitating border entry. 

Between Oct. 1 and 25, inbound flight bookings rose by 40 percent from the same period the month before and 96 percent from a year ago due to more international flights and eased border entry policies, data from tourism platform Trip.com showed. 

Editors: Shi Yi, Tom Litting