China-US Direct Flights Soar to 70 Weekly in November: Ticket Prices Set to Drop

In a significant move towards bolstering air travel ties, China and the United States are set to witness a surge in direct flights, reaching an impressive 70 per week starting November 9. This latest adjustment, the second in a short period, underscores a growing trend of both nations expanding flight operations, as reported by CAAC News, citing the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) confirmed the development, highlighting the positive impact on the exchange of personnel and trade between the two countries. Notably, Chinese airlines, including Air China, Beijing Capital Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines, are expected to increase their flight frequencies to the US, as indicated in the latest notice.

The DOT expressed its commitment to ongoing dialogue with the CAAC, aiming for a gradual and broader reopening of the US-China air services market. This move follows previous increases in flight frequencies throughout the year, with the latest cap allowing Chinese airlines to operate up to 24 weekly round-trip scheduled passenger flights between the two countries.

As the aviation landscape evolves, data from Chinese online travel agency platform Qunar’s Big Data Research Institute suggests a noticeable decline in ticket prices for direct flights between China and the US. The trend indicates a positive trajectory as flight volumes recover. Ticket prices for Shanghai-to-Los Angeles flights, for instance, have seen a substantial reduction from around 15,000 yuan ($2,050) at the beginning of the year to approximately 7,000 yuan in November.

Comparing to 2019, when China-US round-trip flights exceeded 300 per week, the recent increase in flight frequencies signals a step towards normalization. The impact of the pandemic led to a significant reduction in flights over the past three years, resulting in elevated ticket prices. However, with the resurgence in flight volumes, travelers can now anticipate more competitive pricing and increased accessibility in the China-US air travel market.