The US Department of Transportation announced that the number of passenger flights between China and the US will double in the coming months emphasising increased cooperation between the two countries. The Biden Administration has approved increasing the number of flights currently permitted from 12 weekly to 18 weekly round trips, with the first phase beginning September 1.
The purpose of the first phase is to meet an anticipated increase in demand around the start of the academic year.
The second phase will start from October 29, will see 24 flights to and from China. The decision is an agreement in which the Chinese government is also expected to increase flights for American operators.
The agreement came after China lifted all restrictions imposed at the peak COVID-19 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.
“Direct flights are essential for increasing mutual visits between Chinese and American peoples. We hope that the restoration of more flights will do good to the flow of people and trade between the two countries,” read a statement from Chinese Embassy in Washington.
“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 US and Chinese air carriers,” read the official statement from US DOT.
With the new agreement in place, airlines are looking forward to share a piece of the pie with Air China already in process to seek permission to add a new weekly flight between Beijing and Los Angeles. China Eastern, China Southern, and Xiamen Airlines already fly to the United States and may expand their services to new or existing destinations in the US.
United Airlines aims to expand flights between the two countries while also resuming flights to Beijing and reintroducing daily services to Shanghai. While American and Delta have not revealed their plans for expansion to Chinese destinations, more services from their respective US hubs will begin.