China flight delays temporarily ease: aviation body

China's aviation authority said that air traffic in the country's eastern region had returned to normal on Tuesday, according to a statement, after earlier warning of widespread flight delays for the afternoon.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) last week confirmed military exercises were among the factors behind widespread flight delays and cancellations in the latter part of July.

"Traffic capacity in the eastern China region has started to further recover, operations are already basically normal," CAAC's air traffic management bureau said.

It added that CAAC had lifted the warning for delays at Shanghai's two main airports.

Previous media reports said capacity at Shanghai's Pudong and Hongqiao airports would be reduced to just 25 percent for four hours on Tuesday afternoon because of busy airspace, causing delays for hundreds of flights.

But Shanghai's airport authority said Pudong had cancelled 38 flights and delayed 18 for varying periods, while Hongqiao scrapped 33 flights.

The aviation authority also said it had cancelled its highest "red alert" for flight delays.

The regular warnings are blue for normal, yellow for serious, orange for severe and red for especially severe, according to state media.

China's military controls much of the country's airspace -- some estimates say as little as 20 percent is reserved for civil flights. Industry officials say that results in longer flight times, less efficient routes and unaccountable delays.

China is holding military exercises across several provinces from July to October, state media have previously reported.