BEIJING (AP) — The U.S. government has suspended 26 Chinese Airlines flights from the U.S. to China after Beijing suspended U.S. airline flights over disputes over antivirus controls.
On August 25, the Ministry of Transportation complained that Beijing violated air travel protocols and treated airlines unfairly under a system that requires them to suspend flights if passengers test positive for COVID-19.
U.S. regulators suspended seven Air China flights from New York City and 19 flights from Los Angeles by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Xiamen Airlines, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. flight. .
It said that was equivalent to the number of flights United, American and Delta were asked to cancel under Beijing’s “circuit breaker” system.
The ruling Communist Party’s “coronavirus zero” strategy aims to keep the virus at bay, while other governments are turning to coexistence with the disease. This has kept case numbers low but disrupted travel, manufacturing and trade. Beijing is easing travel restrictions, but most foreign tourists are still barred from entering China.
Airlines can suspend flights for two weeks or reduce the number of passengers they carry to 40% of the possible total if up to nine passengers on a flight test positive until August 7, according to the DoT. It said that since August 7, airlines will be required to suspend flights if the number of positive tests on a flight reaches 4% of passengers.
The agency complained that airlines face “undue culpability” for passengers who test negative before boarding but test positive upon arrival in China.
The U.S. statement said China’s actions were “premised on circumstances completely beyond the carrier’s control.”
“We reserve the right to take additional actions” if Beijing implements “further circuit breakers,” the statement said.
