Trump administration to bar Chinese passenger airlines from flights to US as coronavirus and international friction continue
- The ban, to take effect June 16, is in retaliation for Beijing’s failure to allow US carriers to resume service to China
- The Department of Transportation order applies to carriers including Air China and China Eastern
The US government said on Wednesday that it would bar Chinese airlines from flying passengers to US destinations, starting on June 16, in retaliation for Beijing’s refusal to let American carriers resume service to China.
Last month, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) requested permission from the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) for US carriers to resume flights to the country. But the CAAC merely extended an order that limited all domestic and foreign carriers to international flight schedules in place as of March 12.
In doing so, CAAC was rejecting DOT’s request. US carriers had voluntarily halted passenger service to China in February, as part of efforts to block the spread of Covid-19, after US President Donald Trump ordered immigration authorities to bar most non-US citizens travelling from China from entry into the US.
The US-based Delta Air Lines and United Airlines maintained some cargo service to China, and have sought permission to resume passenger service this month.
DOT’s order applies to Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines Holding and all of their subsidiaries. Air China, China Eastern and China Southern have continued operating direct passenger flights to the US, although at reduced frequencies owing to the coronavirus pandemic.