China’s notorious flight delays are about to get a whole lot worse as the nation gears up for a serious display of military bombast to mark the 70th anniversary of victory over Japan in the Second World War.
Both of Beijing’s airports – Beijing Capital International and Nanyuan Airport – will close for three hours on September 3 from 9:30am to 12:30pm, reports Xinhua. (Because it’s not like anyone would want to travel on a public holiday...)
September 3, which falls on a Thursday, was declared a national holiday earlier this year to "enable the public to participate in official commemorative activities.” Apparently the government was being serious about how people – at least in the capital – should spend the holiday. Workers will also get Friday, September 4 off, meaning Sunday is, of course, a work day.
Not only will flights in and out of Beijing be suspended on the morning of September 3, but the capital can expect exacerbated flight delays all summer as the Chinese air force practices its best anti-Fascist formations ahead of the big day. Even when the PLA is not rehearsing for a military parade, only 34 percent of the nation’s airspace is allocated for non-military use, according to a 2013 report.
Beijing’s international airport handles more than 1,500 flights a day.
The September 3 commemorations are shaping up to be pretty epic. The 'anti-Fascist' military parade – the first ever to be held on a day other than the October 1 National Holiday – is expected to be China’s largest in modern history. Almost 200 planes and helicopters rehearsed in a drill last month, the SCMP reports.
SEE ALSO: China to hold 'Anti-Fascist' military parade - the first ever not on National Day
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