WASHINGTON (AP) — Large U.S. airlines and some of their unions are urging the Biden administration to halt the approval of additional flights between the United States and China due to what they perceive as “anti-competitive” policies imposed by China on U.S. carriers.
On Thursday, the airlines and unions stated that China shut its market to U.S. carriers at the start of the pandemic and enforced regulations that continue to impact American operations and airline staff.
“These actions highlight the urgent necessity for the U.S. government to implement a policy that safeguards U.S. aviation workers, industry, and air travelers,” they wrote in a letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The letter was endorsed by the CEO of the Airlines for America trade group and the presidents of the Air Line Pilots Association, the Allied Pilots Association (representing crews at American Airlines), and the Association of Flight Attendants.
Although the number of flights between China and the U.S. has been increasing, it remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels. The Biden administration raised the weekly round trips allowed for Chinese airlines from 35 to 50, effective March 31, following a commitment from China’s aviation authority to pursue an increase in U.S. carrier flights.
The U.S. airlines contended that Chinese airlines benefit from flying shorter routes via Russian airspace, which has been inaccessible to U.S. carriers since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago. They also claimed that Chinese airlines receive “certain protections” from the Chinese government due to their state ownership.
The U.S. industry groups emphasized in their letter that without equal access to China’s aviation market, American carriers will cede flights to Chinese airlines.
