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BEIJING, Aug 22 (Reuters) China will open more flight paths to ease delays and cut back on congestion in the run up to the 2008 Olympics when many more people are expected to visit the country, a state newspaper said today.

The new routes to be opened include those for flights between Beijing and financial hub Shanghai, from Shanghai to Hong Kong and between Beijing, South Korea and Japan, the China Daily said on its Web site (www.chinadaily.com.cn).

China in April opened a new corridor for flights to Europe, which saves time and money in the form of reduced fuel costs, it added.

Most flight paths in China are controlled by the military, who have been known to stop commercial traffic at short notice for war games.

Beijing's airport, the country's busiest, has suffered from severe delays this summer, blamed on thunderstorms.

In July, the civil aviation regulator ordered the cancellation of nearly 600 flights until late September to ensure safety and cut down on delays.

Beijing is also spending more than $3 billion on a massive expansion scheme, adding a third runway and huge new terminal to nearly double capacity by next year to some 70 million passengers annually.

The new runway is expected to start trial operations in October 2007 and be formally opened in May 2008, the Beijing News added.

REUTERS SK BST0633