US airlines are urging the government to stop any more approvals of China flights.
The airlines claim current ‘harmful anti-competitive policies’ are hurting the US airline industry.
“The competitive disadvantage is harmful to the approximately 315,000 workers employed by US passenger airlines that serve China,” they wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
The letter was sent by trade group Airlines for America which represents most major US airlines.
A4A and the airlines are backed by unions.
“If growth of the Chinese aviation market is allowed to continue unchecked and without equality of access, flights will continue to be relinquished to Chinese carriers,” they wrote.
China airlines recently got approval for up to 50 weekly round trips to and from the US, a 30% increase.
Still, the China-US air travel market is still way down on pre-pandemic levels.
The airlines claim said China imposed strict limits and rules which make flying to China more challenging for American airlines and their flight crews.
They complain China has a distinct competitive advantage as its airlines can overfly Russian airspace.
“These actions demonstrate a clear need to establish a policy that protects US aviation workers, industry and air travelers,” it says.
Source TravelMole
