Delta and United Request U.S.-China Flight Extensions

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are both requesting extensions from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for unused flight frequencies between the U.S. and mainland China, as travel capacity remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels. The ongoing challenges in the market and reduced travel demand have prompted both carriers to seek waivers for their allocated routes.

Delta is looking for a dormancy waiver for 28 of its 42 weekly frequencies to China for the upcoming winter season, which spans from October 27, 2024, to March 29, 2025. Meanwhile, United Airlines is requesting a similar waiver for 42 out of its 63 weekly frequencies, planning to operate only 21 flights during this period.

These requests are in accordance with the air transport agreement between the U.S. and China, which permits U.S. airlines to operate routes to China with DOT approval, provided they maintain a certain level of service. The DOT began issuing waivers during the pandemic and has continued to extend them while gradually reinstating operations for both U.S. and Chinese airlines.

Currently, Delta operates daily flights from Seattle and Detroit to Shanghai but is looking to delay the restart of four additional routes: Atlanta to Shanghai, Detroit to Beijing, Los Angeles to Shanghai, and Seattle to Beijing. In contrast, United plans to offer daily flights this winter between Los Angeles and Shanghai, San Francisco and Beijing, and San Francisco and Shanghai. However, United is also seeking to extend the waiver for six routes, including Chicago to Beijing, Chicago to Shanghai, Newark to Beijing, Newark to Shanghai, Washington to Beijing, and an additional seven weekly frequencies on the San Francisco to Shanghai route.

Both airlines have acknowledged the DOT’s efforts in balancing flight reinstatements with current market demand and anticipate that further waivers may be necessary as travel dynamics evolve. American Airlines, on the other hand, has not yet requested a waiver extension for the winter 2024-25 season, although it continues to operate just seven of its 21 weekly frequencies, with daily flights between Dallas-Fort Worth and Shanghai.

The applications for waiver extensions by Delta and United come at a time when capacity between the U.S. and China remains limited, largely due to geopolitical issues and a decline in business travel demand. According to data from OAG Schedules Analyser, there are approximately 241,000 available two-way seats for September 2024, reflecting a 72% reduction compared to 2019 levels.

Since March 31, the DOT has permitted Chinese airlines to operate 50 roundtrip flights per week, while U.S. carriers are also granted 50 flights weekly. However, prior to the pandemic, there were 150 flights operating weekly between these two major economies. Currently, U.S. airlines are operating a combined total of 39 roundtrip flights per week, while Chinese carriers are utilizing the full quota of 50 frequencies allowed.

As both airlines navigate the complexities of international travel, their requests for frequency extensions highlight the ongoing challenges in restoring pre-pandemic service levels between the U.S. and China.