By Luis de Jesus
29 Oct 2023, 11:49 PM EDT
Weekly flights between China and the United States will increase to 70 from November 9, according to authorities in both countries.
The Civil Aviation Administration of China said in recent hours that the number of flights will have a greater frequency starting in the coming weeks.
This was also confirmed by the United States Department of Transportation, which indicated that they are raising the current limit of 48 weekly flights (24 round trips) to 70. This was reported by the EFE news agency.
Which airlines will increase flights?
According to information from both governments, the airlines that will increase travel are: Air China, Beijing Capital Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Hainan Airlines.
Several US officials indicated their desire to increase “productive dialogue” with the Chinese entity. This in order to increase the gradual reopening of air services between both countries.
This exchange had been affected by the “zero covid” policy that China had imposed due to the pandemic.
Some airlines, Chinese travel agency Qunar suggested that “although there is still a significant gap from flight volume in 2019, the latest increase, which is the second adjustment in flight frequency in the short term, indicates a trend for “for both parties to expand flight operations.”
Added to this whole situation is the deterioration of relations between Beijing and Washington, which has made the reactivation of air routes slower. This has resulted in ticket prices increasing.
The announcement of the increase in flights came amid Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the United States. His arrival occurs in an attempt to channel relations between both countries.
These events have also occurred in visits to China by US officials such as Secretary of State, Antony Blinken; the secretaries of the Treasury and Commerce, Janet Yellen and Gina Raimondo, and the special envoy for Climate Change, John Kerry.
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