Multiple aviation groups have asked the U.S. government not to allow more flights between the United States and China until steps are taken to protect American airlines and workers from Chinese carriers’ anticompetitive practices.
After the COVID-19 outbreak, the Chinese regime “unilaterally suspended the bilateral air services agreement with the U.S. and effectively closed the market to U.S. carriers,” said an April 11 letter from the aviation associations. The communist regime also implemented strict limits on market access, imposing “challenging rules” that ended up affecting airline operations, customer service, and how the airline crew were treated. “These actions demonstrated the clear need for the U.S. government to establish a policy that protects U.S. aviation workers, industry, and air travelers.”
More than 150 weekly round-trip passenger flights were allowed by each side before restrictions were imposed in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but until August 2023, Chinese and U.S. carriers could each fly only 12 a week between the two countries.
The number rose on Sept. 1 to 18 weekly round trips, and then to 24 per week starting Oct. 29. The U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) approved 35 for Chinese carriers in November.
In February, the DOT said that Chinese passenger airlines could boost weekly round-trip U.S. flights from 35 to 50 starting on March 31, which is about a third of pre-pandemic levels. U.S. carriers were also authorized to fly 50 flights per week, but are currently not availing of all of these flights.
Airlines are worried the Biden administration could boost or even double to 100 the number of weekly flights permitted by Chinese carriers.
The letter pointed out that Chinese airlines enjoy certain protections due to their relationship with the Chinese regime, which allows them to “operate irrespective of standard market conditions.”
China also benefits from the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the letter stated. In the aftermath of the invasion, U.S. carriers stopped flying through Russian airspace, while Chinese airlines continued accessing it.
Avoiding Russian airspace adds extra time and costs to a flight, something which U.S. airlines have to bear. This puts U.S. carriers at a disadvantageous position against Chinese airlines, which capitalize on the shorter routes.
Such a competitive disadvantage against China is harmful to the roughly 315,000 individuals employed by U.S. airlines which service the Asian nation, the letter said. If the Chinese aviation market grows unchecked without concern for equality of access for all airlines, flights will continue going to Chinese carriers at the expense of American businesses and workers, the groups warned.
“On behalf of the U.S. aviation industry, we are writing to urge you pause additional passenger flights between the United States and the People’s Republic of China until U.S. workers and businesses are guaranteed equality of access in the marketplace, free from the existing harmful anti-competitive policies of the Chinese government,” the letter said.
Addressed to U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, the letter was signed by Airlines for America, the Air Line Pilots Association, the Allied Pilots Association, and the Association of Flight Attendants.
“We ask the government to take the time to address these significant competitive issues and protect U.S. aviation workers, travelers, and airlines,” the letter said.
Chinese Response, Lawmaker Concerns
During a press conference on April 12, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning was asked about the letter.
“I’d refer you to competent authorities on the specific question. More broadly, to increase direct flights between China and the U.S. was something agreed between the two presidents in San Francisco,” she said, referring to the meeting in November.
Boosting flights between the two nations “will help promote exchanges and mutual understanding between the two peoples,” she said.
On Thursday, Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) and Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) sent a letter to Mr. Blinken and Mr. Buttigieg, raising similar concerns to the letter sent by the aviation groups.
The lawmakers’ letter asked Biden officials to exercise “caution” when approving new flights between the United States and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
“PRC carriers are continuing to operate air routes at an anti-competitive commercial advantage that must not be allowed to increase without reciprocal parity in the number of U.S. carrier operated routes to the PRC. Any additional routes to the PRC should be slowly phased in, based on passenger demand,” they wrote.
“Additionally, American passengers must not be exposed to unnecessary security risks by traversing Russian airspace. The expansion of routes must ensure a prohibition on the use of Russian airspace by PRC airlines.”
Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department continues to maintain a Level 3 travel advisory to mainland China, asking Americans to reconsider traveling there.
The department warned about the “arbitrary enforcement of local laws” in China, “including in relation to exit bans, and the risk of wrongful detentions.”
“U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens in the PRC may be subjected to interrogations and detention without fair and transparent treatment under the law,” it said.
From The Epoch Times
