(ECNS) -- Chinese domestic air travelers are now required to carry their personal IDs as travel documents rather than passports, according to Chinese Radio Network.
A new rule issued by the Civil Aviation Administration of China requires that Chinese passengers who take domestic flights or international flights in China's section should show their IDs.
This new rule mainly affects travelers passing through borders, overseas students and Chinese citizens residing abroad who have been living overseas for a long time, with their IDs expired or lost. They might face refusal by Chinese flights for lack of ID when they return to China, according to Wang Chuang, a ground service manager for China Eastern Airlines.
If their travel Itineraries include domestic flights, then they must carry their IDs at all times, Wang said.
Hu Changsheng, a safety check officer at Xinqiao Airport in Hefei City, Anhui Province, said Chinese passengers with an expired ID would not be allowed to board a plane.
A resident of Hefei City, working in international business, complained that the new policy was a source of inconvenience. In the past, he could easily travel home and abroad with just his passport, but now he also needed to bring his ID with him.
Aviation industry insiders said the new policy might affect passengers' flight choices. For example, tourists in Nanjing City of Jiangsu Province could take a domestic flight to Guangzhou City in Guangdong Province before transferring to a flight bound for Brisbane, Australia, if they carry both an ID and a passport. While another option would be to fly through Hong Kong to Brisbane, which would require just their passport.
