US -China’s Foreign Travel Rift Likely to Resolve as Former Uplifts Ban on Airlines

After the US uplifted its ban on Chinese flights, China’s foreign travel is all set to recover. In an announcement made yesterday, the Trump administration stated that it will permit a limited number of flights to the US.

The sudden drop in the demand for flights due to the pandemic led airlines including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and the United Airlines to suspend their competing flights.

The US Transportation Department has allowed Chinese passenger airlines to undertake a total of two round-trip flights per week between the two countries. The two flights will be run by Delta Air Lines and United Airlines. Speaking about restrictions on China’s foreign travel and the dire need to cooperate, the US Department of Transportation said, “The sudden drop in the demand for flights due to the pandemic led airlines including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and the United Airlines to suspend their competing flights.” As per the Department, if Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) adjusts its policies to improve things for the US carriers, they are prepared to visit again.

As the two countries are gradually re-opening economies and resuming international air travel, airline stocks have significantly improved after American Airlines announced claims to aggressively add flights in July. A spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Zhao Lijian said, “The two sides have already made progress.

China has also made policy adjustments. We hope that the US will not create obstacles for solving problems.”

Even though restrictions have been eased to allow two flights per week, China’s foreign travel will revive only gradually as a large number of travellers are currently avoiding unnecessary travel. The efforts of the US government to “ensure fairness and access to China” have been praised by Delta Air Lines. Both United Airlines and Delta Air Lines are hoping that even though the rift between the two countries exists, the dispute would not largely affect their future flight plans.

Recent reports claim that United Airlines plans to resume flights to 150 US and Canadian destinations. The airlines domestic passenger capacity in the next month will be 70 percent less than what it was in July 2019.