Chinese Airlines Granted Increased Weekly Flights to the U.S. in September

Starting in September, seven major Chinese carriers will have the opportunity to increase their weekly roundtrip flights to the United States. According to a regulatory filing by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, Capital Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Hainan Airlines will collectively be permitted to operate up to 18 weekly roundtrip scheduled passenger flights between the US and China from September 1. This allowance will expand to 24 flights per week from October 29.

This move signifies a further step towards the relaxation of bilateral air service restrictions between the US and China. These restrictions were initiated after both countries suspended their scheduled commercial passenger flights in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then, incremental adjustments have been made to the flight bans, gradually increasing flight capacities for both US and Chinese carriers.

Currently, the four Chinese carriers—Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines—have been utilizing the permitted 12 weekly roundtrip flights between the two countries. However, the US DOT has extended an invitation to all seven Chinese carriers to propose their schedules for consideration.

The DOT’s aim is to ensure balanced competition and equal opportunities for both US and Chinese carriers while gradually reopening the US-China air services market. The department emphasized its commitment to maintaining a productive dialogue with the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to facilitate the continued gradual expansion of air services between the two countries.