Airlines Call for China Flight Limits

Airline industry and labor groups are calling for restrictions on Chinese Airline flights to the US, citing unfair competition..

In a letter to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Secretary of Trasportation Pete Buttigieg the chiefs of  Airlines for America, the Air Line Pilots Association, the Allied Pilots Association,  and the Association of Flight Attendants, asked for a "pause" to 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. "

"If the growth of the Chinese aviation market is allowed to continue unchecked and without concern for equality of access in the market, flights will continue to be relinquished to Chinese carriers at the expense of U.S. workers and businesses.

"The anti-competitive relationship between the two countries is highlighted by the advantage Chinese airlines receive by continuing to access Russian airspace, while U.S. carriers stopped flying through Russian airspace at the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in March 2022. 

The letter contends "Chinese airlines enjoying certain protections stemming from the Chinese airline’s relationships with their government. This allows Chinese airlines to operate irrespective of standard market conditions."

[A4A/Labor Letter]