US and China Flip‑Flop Over Flights: A Pandemic Back‑and‑Forth
What Just Happened?
The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that starting September 5th and continuing until September 28th, 26 flights heading to China from four major Chinese carriers will be suspended. The carriers—Xiamen Airlines, Air China, China Southern Airlines, and China Eastern Airlines—have to put their planes on hold while the U.S. pulls the brakes too.
Why the Pause?
In a “tit‑for‑tat” move, the U.S. is reacting to China’s recent decision to halt some U.S. carrier flights because of a spike in COVID‑19 cases among passengers. The U.S. cites 26 canceled flights by American Airlines, Delta and United that sharply reflected the same pandemic concerns.
Where the Impact is Felt
- 19 flights out of Los Angeles (the biggest swing in the western states)
- 7 flights from New York served by China Eastern (big city, big impact)
- All flights are on either September 5th or September 28th
China’s Take
Spokesperson Liu Pengyu at the Chinese Embassy in Washington slammed the U.S. move as “extremely irresponsible” and “groundless.” The embassy insists that China’s COVID circuit‑breaker rules are fair and transparent. They’re applied equally to any airline—whether Chinese or foreign—and uphold our bilateral air‑travel agreements.
How the Rules Work
According to the U.S. Office of Transport, Chinese authorities will now halt flights if:
- +4% of passengers test positive for COVID‑19 on board, one flight gets canceled;
- +8% test positive, two flights get canceled.
Keep Your Eyes on the Skies
America has been raising eyebrows at China’s rules, arguing that they unfairly pin undue blame on airlines. Passengers may board under a negative test in the U.S., yet be “caught” on arrival in China when a positive result pops up. The U.S. says this shifts responsibility from the airline to the passenger— a “bit of an old-school blame game.”
History is in the Air
Since the pandemic began, U.S. and Chinese airlines have been in a tug‑of‑war over flights. In August 2021, for example, the U.S. limited four Chinese flights to only 40% passenger capacity for four weeks, mirroring the same restriction placed on United Airlines. Together, the two sides usually operate roughly 20 flights a week—a far cry from the pre‑pandemic 100+ flights a week.
Bottom Line
Flights are being swapped and snubbed as both sides tussle over who’s going to do the heavy lifting when it comes to COVID safety on commercial air routes. For now, if you’re planning a trip to Beijing or Shanghai in early September, be ready to deal with a short‑haul detour—or plan to stay home and binge One Piece.
