China Southern Airlines Ltd, the largest carrier in the country by fleet, adjusted its first-class and business-class fares on 157 domestic routes Tuesday.

In order to make up for business lost to the central government's ongoing austerity campaign, the new prices are higher than before, said a manager at an airline ticket agency based in Beijing, although some prices are lower on a few routes.

China Southern divided the adjusted routes into five categories, with first-class fares at the highest level. Covering 21 routes, they are three times as expensive as the regular price of economy class fares, the carrier said.