Topline
The U.S. Department of Transportation is suspending 44 flights from the United States to China by four Chinese airlines, it said Friday, in retaliation for Beijing canceling the same number of flights on American carriers citing precautions against Covid-19.
An airplane arrives at the Los Angeles International Airport on April 15, 2008. (Photo by David … [+]
Key Facts
The flights suspended are scheduled from January 30 through March 29 on Xiamen, Air China, China Southern Airlines and China Eastern Airlines, the DOT said.
The department said it’s “fully prepared” to reverse its decision if China improves its treatment of U.S. carriers, or take additional action if Beijing suspends more flights.
In the first few weeks of January, Beijing canceled 44 flights on American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines flights scheduled from January through March after travelers on the U.S. carriers tested positive for Covid-19 after entering the country.
Surprising Fact
China has cut international flights to just 2% of the volume it had before the pandemic, according to the Civil Aviation Administration of China.
Tangent
China has instituted a strict zero-Covid policy ahead of the Winter Olympics, and airlines are subject to penalties if travelers test positive for the virus.
Key Background
If five to nine passengers on a single flight test positive for coronavirus upon arrival in China, Chinese aviation authorities are forcing airlines to choose one of the two restrictions: suspend the flight for two weeks or limit passenger capacity on the flight to 40% for four weeks. Washington and Beijing have tussled over flight cancellations since the onset of the pandemic. In 2020, China blocked Delta and United flights, prompting the Trump administration to threaten to suspend service by Chinese airlines, which resulted in China relenting and allowing the two American carriers to resume operations. In August 2021, the DOT placed a 40% limit on passenger capacity on four flights from Chinese carriers for four weeks after Beijing imposed the same restrictions on four United flights.
Further Reading
Biden administration suspending 44 U.S flights by Chinese carriers (Reuters)
US airlines blame China for some flight cancellations as restrictions tighten ahead of Olympics (USA Today)
Barring Chinese Airlines Would Have Had Little Effect on U.S.-China Traffic (Forbes)
Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisakim/2022/01/21/us-cancels-44-chinese-airline-flights-in-retaliation-for-chinas-suspension-of-service-by-us-carriers/