U.S. Airlines Oppose Air China’s Additional Flights

A trade group representing major U.S. airlines is opposing Air China’s request for two additional flights from Beijing to New York and Washington during Chinese President Xi Jinping’s planned meeting with current President Donald Trump. The airlines want the flights classified as charters rather than regular scheduled service, arguing that approval could establish a precedent for expanding Chinese operations in the U.S. market. They say Chinese carriers have an unfair cost advantage because they can fly through Russian airspace, while U.S. airlines cannot, resulting in shorter routes, lower fuel costs and reduced fares. A 2025 Transportation Department proposal to restrict Chinese carriers’ use of Russian airspace was shelved after opposition from other U.S. agencies and amid trade discussions with China. U.S.-China air travel remains capped at roughly 50 authorized weekly flights per side, far below pre-pandemic levels of more than 300 weekly flights.