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The Biden administration is under significant pressure from major US airlines and aviation unions to halt the approval of more flights between China and the United States. They argue that this move is necessary due to the Chinese government’s “anti-competitive policies.”

The concern stems from an advantage that Chinese airlines have by continuing to access Russian airspace—a route US carriers have avoided since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022.

This situation was highlighted in a letter to the Transportation and State departments by Airlines for America, a trade group representing major airlines, including American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines, along with several unions. They urge a pause in approving additional passenger flights to China until “US workers and businesses are guaranteed equality of access in the marketplace.”

Their concern also comes as a notable increase in flights between China and the US. There has been some concern that the Biden administration might further increase the weekly flight limit, potentially doubling it to 100 for Chinese carriers.

Recently, the US Department of Transportation announced that Chinese passenger airlines could increase their weekly round-trip flights to the US to 50 from the current 35, starting March 31, a number that still falls short of pre-pandemic levels. Despite this increase, US carriers, which are also allowed to operate 50 flights per week, have not utilized all their allocated flights.