US and China Increase Weekly Flights to 70 as Travel Restrictions Ease

Flights between the US and China will increase from 48 to 70 per week starting Nov. 9 as the two governments gradually relax restrictions. This is a result of a recent agreement between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden, who met in San Francisco on Wednesday and committed to working toward a significant further increase in scheduled passenger flights early next year.

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) said in a regulatory document that it intends to establish a roadmap that will provide for a phased and predictable return to the capacity entitlements that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic, which were over 340 flights per week. The USDOT also said it is actively communicating and seeking ongoing dialogue with the Civil Aviation Administration of China to facilitate the reopening of services between the two countries.

The increased flight slots will be divided between three US carriers and six China-based carriers, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Air China, and China Eastern Airlines. Some of the airlines have already announced their plans to expand their flights between the two countries, such as United Airlines, which will resume flights to Beijing and reintroduce its daily service to Shanghai.

The increase in flights will benefit both travelers and businesses, as it will provide more options and flexibility to visit the two countries, which are among the largest markets for tourism and trade. The increase will also support the recovery of the aviation industry, which has been severely affected by the pandemic and the travel restrictions.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, usnews.com, chinadaily.com.cn