New York: Leading US airline companies and key airline unions have called on the Biden administration to refrain from greenlighting additional flights between the US and China. Their plea is rooted in what they describe as the ongoing “anti-competitive policies of the Chinese government.” Highlighting China’s closure of its market to US airlines during the pandemic, they argue that these restrictions persist, adversely affecting American operations and airline crews.
In a joint letter addressed to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, the signatories underscored the imperative for the US government to adopt a policy safeguarding American aviation workers, industry, and air travelers. Among the signatories were the CEO of Airlines for America and the presidents of the Air Line Pilots Association, the Allied Pilots Association (representing crews at American Airlines), and the Association of Flight Attendants.
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While Chinese airlines were recently permitted by the Biden administration to increase their round-trip flights from 35 to 50 per week, concerns loom over the possibility of further elevating this limit, potentially doubling it to 100 weekly flights. US airlines express apprehension over the advantages enjoyed by Chinese carriers, including the ability to fly shorter routes over Russia, a luxury denied to US carriers since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Additionally, the state-owned nature of Chinese airlines affords them certain protections and advantages, further exacerbating the disparity. US airlines warn that without equitable access to the Chinese aviation market, American carriers risk losing out to their Chinese counterparts.
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In a separate development, US Representatives Mike Gallagher and Raja Krishnamoorthi, respectively the chair and top Democrat of the House Select Committee on China, penned a letter urging the Biden administration to refrain from approving more flights until China honors the bilateral agreement and passenger demand rebounds. They argue that Chinese airlines operate without fair competitive advantages and stress the importance of maintaining parity in the number of routes operated by US carriers to China. The lawmakers also emphasize the imperative of ensuring American passengers are not exposed to unnecessary security risks, particularly by flying over Russian airspace.
