CRI听力:China Lifts Military Controls that Delayed Flights

China's civil aviation authorities say they're going to remove the current flight restrictions in-place in eastern, central and southern China later on this Friday.

They say this should return flight patterns to normal in these regions.

However, aviation authorities are still warning that stormy weather and other unspecified airspace activities may still have an impact on flights.

A series of military drills along China's east coast have been having an impact on civilian flights.

However, Defense ministry spokesperson Geng Yansheng says they're doing what they can to cope with the situation.

"Both military and civil aviation management authorities have taken measures to minimize the exercise's impact on civil flights by opening temporary air routes, allocating protection airspace, and setting up alternative deviation plans. China's Air Traffic Management Bureau has also dispatched multiple task forces comprised of military officers and civilian staff to guide and coordinate in high-traffic areas and airports. These measures have effectively guaranteed the flight security and order."

Hundreds of flights have been cancelled at over 20 airports in eastern and central China over the last couple of weeks.