The U.S. Department of Transportation on Wednesday issued an order that bars Chinese carriers from entry into the U.S. effective June 16 in response to China’s failure to grant entry approval to United Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
The Chinese ban results from a clause in an order limiting its own airlines to one weekly flight to any country and foreign airlines one weekly passenger flight into China based on a particular airline’s March 12 schedule. However, U.S. carriers suspended passenger flights into China in early February due to declining demand, meaning the order prevents them from reinstating service, while Chinese airlines can maintain service to and from each foreign market served as of the March 12 baseline date, including the U.S.
U.S. carriers had planned to reinstate scheduled passenger services to China in early June. United and Delta announced their intent to resume scheduled passenger services on various routes and submitted applications to the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) at the beginning of May 2020. Although the CAAC notified U.S. authorities that it would consider removing the March benchmark, it added that its limit of one weekly flight to China would remain. According to the DOT, that restriction violates the U.S.-China Civil Aviation agreement of 1980.
“In light of the failure of the CAAC to approve U.S. carrier applications, the department intensified its engagement with the CAAC regarding the notice, and, in particular, raised objections that the notice is inconsistent with the terms of the [U.S.-China Civil Aviation Agreement]," the DOT explained in its order. “Our overriding goal is not the perpetuation of this situation, but rather an improved environment wherein the carriers of both parties will be able to exercise fully their bilateral rights. Should the CAAC adjust its policies to bring about the necessary improved situation for U.S. carriers, the department is fully prepared to revisit the action it has announced in this order.”
The U.S. order effectively reverses approvals of all of the existing schedules filed by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, and Xiamen Airlines.