The Increase of Passenger Flights between China and the U.S.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has recently announced the approval of an increase in the number of scheduled roundtrip weekly passenger flights by Chinese airlines to the U.S. The number has been raised to 50, up from the previous limit of 35, effective from March 31. This decision has been made in order to bring parity with the total number of passenger flights allowed by the aviation authorities in the People’s Republic of China for U.S. carriers.

The airlines that have been granted permission to operate these additional flights include Air China, Beijing Capital Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines. In order to proceed, these carriers are required to submit their proposed schedules to the Department of Transportation for further consideration. This move comes as a result of a meeting held in November 2023 between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping, during which they agreed to increase scheduled passenger flights between the two countries.

The Department of Transportation has expressed its commitment to a phased and predictable normalization of the bilateral aviation market in accordance with the U.S.-China Civil Air Transport Agreement. This is not the first time such an increase has been approved. In August 2023, the DOT announced an increase in the number of Chinese passenger flights to the U.S. to 18 weekly roundtrips, which was further raised to 24 on October 29, and eventually to 35 in November. This gradual expansion has been well received by industry groups such as Airlines for America.

Airlines for America has issued a statement in support of the U.S. government’s measured approach towards reopening the aviation market with China. The organization emphasized the importance of maintaining a reciprocal relationship in terms of flight permissions between the two countries. Currently, American, Delta, and United Airlines collectively operate 31 weekly flights to China, as reported by Reuters.

The recent approval for an increase in scheduled passenger flights between China and the U.S. is a significant step towards restoring a balanced and mutually beneficial relationship in the aviation sector. The phased approach adopted by the Department of Transportation reflects a cautious yet optimistic outlook towards future collaborations in air transportation between the two nations.