WASHINGTON – The United States and China have agreed to double the number of airlines’ flights that the airlines can operate between countries, from four to eight a week.
The deal marks a further narrowing of a distance between the world’s two largest economies over travel restrictions imposed during the pandemic.
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the increase Tuesday, saying China’s aviation administration this week decided to allow extended flights through the United States and Delta.
Shortly after the announcement, the Chicago-based United Airlines UAL,
said it will take two to four flights a week between San Francisco and Shanghai via Seoul, starting Sept. 4.
The Department of Transportation said Delta airline DAL is based in Atlanta,
is also eligible to increase its two weekly flights to four. Delta did not immediately comment.
Chinese Airlines already flying to the United States – Air China 753,
, China Eastern Airlines CEA,
, China Southern Airlines ZNH,
and Xiamen Airlines – will allow eight weekly round trips instead of four, the department said.
The Department of Transportation reiterated its hope that China would agree to fully restore the US airlines’ treaty rights to serve China, but called the latest increase in aviation “a step in the right direction.”
In early January, there were more than 300 flights a week between the two countries, but that number was nosed after the pandemic under demand for international air travel. United, Delta and American Airlines AAL,
stopped flights to China by mid-March.
.
