UNITED STATES AND CHINA AGREE TO DOUBLE FLIGHTS BETWEEN COUNTRIES
September 10, 2023
On August 11, 2023, the United States Department of Transportation (“DOT”) announced that passenger flights between China and the US would double in the latter part of this year. The Biden Administration has approved increasing the number of flights currently permitted, showing a sign of cooperation between the two countries. The agreement came after China lifted all restrictions imposed at the peak of the global pandemic on group tours for key markets, including Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the US. The two nations expect the travel demand to pick up for the academic year beginning late August to early September. DOT stated that “the consistent engagement by USDOT and the State Department with Chinese officials made this important step forward possible. Our overriding goal is an improved environment wherein the carriers of both parties are able to exercise fully their bilateral rights to maintain a competitive balance and fair and equal opportunity among U.S. and Chinese air carriers.”
The new policy is being implemented in two parts. First, beginning September 1, 2023, the Chinese carriers may operate a total of 18 weekly round-trip scheduled passenger flights to and from the United States (up from the current allowance of 12). Second, beginning October 29, 2023, the Chinese carriers may operate a total of 24 weekly round-trip scheduled passenger flights to and from the United States. In response to the submission of proposed schedule revisions by the affected carriers, DOT approved six additional weekly round-trip scheduled passenger flights for Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern between China and the United States. The new routes will join the carriers’ 12 previously approved weekly schedules, granting 18 weekly round-trip scheduled passenger flights for the carriers between the two countries.
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