Overview

• U.S. airlines and unions have urged the Biden administration to halt the approval of additional flights to China, arguing that anti-competitive policies harm U.S. aviation workers and businesses.
• Airlines for America, representing major U.S. airlines, points out that Chinese carriers have an unfair advantage by accessing Russian airspace, which is off-limits to U.S. airlines since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
• The trade group claims that the Chinese government has effectively closed the market to U.S. carriers post-COVID, demanding a level playing field for market access.
• Despite an increase in the number of flights between the two countries, U.S. airlines are not utilizing their full allocation, citing competitive disadvantages.
• The ongoing restrictions and competitive imbalance have led to significant financial losses for U.S. airlines, with billions not spent by Chinese tourists in the U.S. economy.