Coronavirus: US suspends 26 flights to China by Chinese airlines over zero-Covid rules
- Beijing violated air travel agreement and treated airlines unfairly under flight-suspension system, US Department of Transportation says
- Affected flights are Air China from New York City, and Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Xiamen Airlines from Los Angeles
The Department of Transportation said Beijing violated an air travel agreement and treated airlines unfairly under a system that requires them to suspend flights if passengers test positive for Covid-19.
US regulators suspended seven flights by Air China from New York City and a total of 19 flights from Los Angeles by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Xiamen Airlines, according to the department.
It said that was equal to the number of flights United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air were required to cancel under Beijing’s “circuit-breaker” system.
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China’s “zero Covid” strategy aims to keep the virus out of the country while other governments are shifting to living with the coronavirus disease. The strategy has kept case numbers low but disrupted travel, manufacturing and trade. Travel curbs are now being eased, but most foreign visitors are still barred from China.