China allows limited US flights to operate despite restrictions on its airlines

China on June 4 reportedly said that it will allow foreign airlines that are currently blocked from operating over COVID-19 concerns to resume limited flights. While Washington ordered suspension of all flights by Chinese airlines, Beijing lifted de facto ban on US carries. move by China’s civil aviation authority comes after US retaliated against Beijing’s restriction on American and foreign carriers. 

move also adds to  soaring friction between Beijing and Washington, two largest ecomies, amid deadly coronavirus pandemic and also in wake of a two-year trade war that has t been fully resolved. latest spat between two countries is rooted partly on Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) deciding to impose a limit for foreign airlines based on ir activity as of March 12. 

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According to an international media report, CAAC said that all foreign airlines t listed in March 12 schedule would w be able to operate one international route into China each week. As per guideline, passengers must be tested for COVID-19 upon arrival in China. Furrmore, passengers who test negative for three consecutive weeks will also be allowed to operate an additional flight each week. Although routes with five or more passengers testing positive will be suspended for at least one week for both foreign and domestic carriers. 

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US suspends all flights by Chinese airlines 

Meanwhile, US decided to suspend all flights by Chinese airlines into and out of country. In a statement, US Transportation Department anunced that se restrictions will come into place from June 16. US has decided to take this action in response to China unfairly blocking attempt by its airlines to resume service in that country. Mentioning that Chinese authorities had failed to respond to Delta Air Lines Inc. and United Airlines Holdings Inc., US Transportation Department termed this as a violation of  bilateral agreement pertaining to airline service between two countries.

US Transportation Department's statement added that it would continue to eng with Chinese authorities to ensure that carriers from both countries can exercise ir bilateral rights. At same time, it ted that Chinese airlines shall be allowed to operate same number of scheduled passenger flights which  Chinese government permits for carriers from US. 

(Im: AP) 

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