Fewer than 6% of U.S. flights to and from China’s mainland that existed in 2019 have resumed, according to a Nomura report.
In contrast, flights between China’s mainland and Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Italy are nearly back to pre-pandemic frequency or more, the report showed, citing data as of May 22 from Variflight.
This past weekend, an Air China flight between Beijing and New York marked the first direct passenger on the route by a Chinese carrier in months. It was one of the four new weekly flights between the two countries by Chinese airlines that the U.S. Department of Transportation approved in May.
Reports say U.S.-based airlines have chosen not to resume many flights between the U.S. and China. That’s because restrictions on flying over Russian airspace give Chinese carriers an advantage — an added cost of $2 billion a year for the three major U.S.-based airlines.
Delta, United and American Airlines did not respond to a request for comment.
In early January, Beijing relaxed border controls after nearly three years and scrapped inbound quarantine requirements, while allowing more people to get visas for travel in and out of the mainland.
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