US Airlines oppose Xi’s idea to increase the number of flights from China

The head of the industry group Airlines for America, Chris Sununu, said that American airlines are categorically against the increase in the number of direct flights from China to the United States, despite the fact that Chinese President Xi Jinping made such a proposal. This is reported by Reuters.

According to the head of the association representing American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines and other companies, Chinese air carriers are getting an unfair advantage because Russia allows them to use its airspace. The United States closed the skies to Russian aircraft in March 2022, after which Moscow imposed a similar ban on American companies.

“It's not just a small thing. The need to fly bypassing Russia costs airlines (from the United States. – Kommersant) very expensive. The Chinese already have an advantage on eight routes. It would be a mistake to give them an even greater advantage, he said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward the idea of increasing the number of flights at an event in Washington on September 24. Currently, U.S. and Chinese airlines can operate about 50 round-trip flights per week on each side. “Both sides could increase the number of direct flights to facilitate mutual travel and trade,” Xi said.

Prior to the introduction of restrictions in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, each side was allowed to make more than 150 weekly round-trip passenger flights. By August 2023, Chinese and U.S. carriers could only fly 12 flights a week between the two countries.

Ernest Philippowski