U.S. RAPS CHINA FOR BLOCKING FLIGHTS OF AMERICAN LINERS

The U.S. has accused China of blocking U.S. flights and making it nearly impossible for American airliners to fly to China and demanded that four Chinese carriers file their flight schedules with the U.S. government, David Shepardson of Reuters wrote in his May 23, 2020 report.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Transportation Department, which is trying to persuade China to allow the resumption of U.S. passenger airline service there, briefly delayed a few Chinese charter flights for not complying with notice requirements.

Delta Air Lines and United Airlines want to resume flights to China in June, even as Chinese carriers have continued U.S. flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. The order said Air China, China Eastern Airlines Corp, China Southern Airlines Co, Hainan Airlines Holding Co and their subsidiaries must file schedules and other details of flights by May 27.

The department warned it could find Chinese flights “contrary to applicable law or adversely affect the public interest.” The department said in a statement it has “protested this situation to the Chinese authorities, repeatedly objecting to China’s failure to let U.S. carriers fully exercise their rights and to the denial to U.S. carriers of their right to compete on a fair and equal basis with Chinese carriers” and called the situation “critical.” #COVID19