China's Ministry of Public Security published a new regulation on its website Tuesday adding passenger and crew ID to the information international flights are required to report to Chinese frontier inspection stations ahead of landing.

The regulation, which will come into effect May 1, was jointly issued by the Ministry of Public Security and the General Administration of Civil Aviation.

Airlines are required to report the information one and half hours before arrival for flights of more than two hours and 40 minutes before arrival for flights of less than two hours.

For departing flights, passengers and crew information must be reported before passing through exit inspection formalities.

The information required includes name, nationality, gender, date of birth, passport number, expiration date, and status.

Airlines will be fined 10,000-30,000 yuan (US$1,430-4,285) for failing to report the information within the time limit, or for incorrect information.

China's civil aviation administration reserves the right to restrict flights operated by airlines failing to comply with the regulation, and frontier inspection stations will be given the power to postpone or cancel flights.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Tingting March 26, 2008)