2LT International News

WASHINGTON D.C.: Some flights by Chinese airlines will be limited to 40 percent passenger capacity for four weeks, announced the U.S. Transportation Department on Wednesday, after the Chinese government imposed similar limits on four American airlines.

On 6th August, China told United Airlines it will impose limits after five passengers traveling from San Francisco to Shanghai allegedly tested positive for COVID-19 on 21st July.

Carriers “have no means of independently verifying positive test results alleged by Chinese authorities, and there is no way to establish where or when a traveler may have contracted” the virus, the Transportation Department responded.

United Airlines said it was “pleased to see this action by the department, in pursuit of fairness in this important market.”
Meanwhile, the Chinese Embassy in Washington declined to comment.

Chinese authorities gave United Airlines three options – cancel two San Francisco to Shanghai flights, operate two without passengers, or operate four flights with a 40 percent passenger capacity limit.

The limits were subsequently imposed on four United flights from San Francisco to Shanghai beginning 11th August.

China’s “circuit breaker” policy violates its air services agreement and “places undue culpability on carriers,” noted the U.S. government.

The Biden administration said it will impose identical limits on four flights over four weeks, affecting Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines.

The limits come as many Chinese students are due to travel to the U.S. for the start of fall classes. In April, the government eased restrictions on Chinese students, effective on 1st August.

In June 2020, the U.S. threatened to ban Chinese passenger flights after Beijing did not immediately agree to accept flights by American airlines.

U.S. airlines had voluntarily stopped flying to China after the start of the coronavirus pandemic.