US airlines oppose China's bid to add more flights
AAL•Airlines for America said US carriers oppose adding direct flights between China and the United States, after Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the idea. Each country currently can operate around 50 weekly round-trip flights.
1. Airlines cite flight imbalance
Airlines for America head Chris Sununu said US carriers oppose increasing direct flights from China, citing Chinese airlines’ ability to overfly Russia on eight flights while US carriers cannot. He called the added costs of routing around Russia a significant burden and said he has urged Trump administration officials not to approve more flights.
2. Current flight limits
Xi said the two countries may increase direct flights to facilitate travel and trade. Before restrictions imposed in early 2020, each side was allowed more than 150 weekly round-trip passenger flights; by August 2023, the limit had fallen to 12 a week for each side. The current allowance is around 50 weekly round trips apiece.
