(Yicai Global) March 30 -- China’s civil aviation sector is lowering jet fuel surcharges for the second time this year to encourage more people to travel.

From April 5, passengers flying on routes shorter than 800 km will be charged a fuel surcharge of CNY30 (USD4.40) each and for routes longer than 800 km, they will be charged CNY60, according to information obtained by Yicai Global from a number of travel agencies.

This is a big drop from the surcharges of CNY60 for short-haul routes and CNY120 for long-haul routes at the end of last year. In January, the fuel surcharges were already reduced by one third.

Lower fuel surcharges will make flying cheaper and encourage more people to travel, The Paper reported, citing Xiang Ming, the person responsible for air tickets at online travel agent Fliggy.

China’s fuel surcharge is based on the price of jet fuel. International crude oil prices have been falling since the beginning of the month and even dropped under USD70 a barrel in the middle of March, the lowest price since December 2021.

Now that China has lifted its zero-Covid policy, more people are starting to travel. Air ticket bookings have nearly doubled over the Qingming Festival, which falls from April 4 to April 6 this year, from the same period last year, according to travel app Umetrip. The average price of a ticket is now CNY907 (USD132).

Editors: Dou Shicong, Kim Taylor