US Aviation Industry "No Increase in Flights from China"

"Chinese Airlines Gain Advantage by Using Russian Airspace"

Major U.S. airlines and aviation unions have urged the Biden administration to halt approvals for flights to and from China, citing harm caused by the Chinese government's anti-competitive policies and the rapid increase in flights.

On the 11th (local time), Airlines for America (A4A), whose members include American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, sent a letter to the U.S. State Department and Department of Transportation stating, "Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, U.S. airlines have ceased flying over Russian airspace, but Chinese airlines continue to use Russian airspace and are benefiting from this."

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Aviation unions such as the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), Allied Pilots Association (APA), and Communications Workers of America (CWA) also joined the letter. They urged, "Please suspend additional flights between the U.S. and China until American workers and companies are guaranteed equal market access free from the Chinese government's anti-competitive policies."

According to foreign media, Chinese airlines' flights to the U.S. pass through Russian airspace. Compared to U.S. airlines, which are blocked from using Russian airspace, these flights have shorter flight times and consume less fuel.

Furthermore, in February, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that starting March 31, Chinese airlines could increase their round-trip passenger flights to the U.S. from 35 to 50 per week. U.S. airlines are also allowed to operate up to 50 flights per week but are not currently using the full allotment. According to foreign media, U.S. airlines are concerned that the Biden administration might expand Chinese airlines' flights to 100 per week or even double that. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, both U.S. and Chinese airlines operated 150 flights per week.

Separately from the airlines' letter, Republican Representative Mike Gallagher, chairman of the House China Task Force, and Democratic Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the task force's ranking member, also sent a letter urging the Biden administration not to allow additional Chinese flights.

They argued, "Chinese airlines enjoying anti-competitive commercial advantages should not be allowed to increase flights while the number of China routes operated by U.S. airlines remains unequal," adding, "American passengers should not be exposed to unnecessary security threats by flying over Russian airspace."