As the world gradually recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, travelers between China and the United States are still facing significant hurdles. Flights from Beijing to major US cities like Washington and New York remain notably scarce, with no direct options currently available.
The pandemic severely impacted airline travel, leading to a dramatic reduction in available flights. Even though there's a slight increase in capacity—Chinese carriers are set to fly 50 weekly round trips to the US starting March 31, up from 35—this is still a far cry from the pre-pandemic levels of over 150 weekly round trips.
One of the main reasons for the limited flight options is the absence of an \"open skies\" agreement between the two nations. Such an agreement typically allows for unrestricted flights, but the current negotiations between China's Civil Aviation Administration and the US Department of Transportation have yet to bridge this gap.
Interestingly, while China has embraced a more open stance towards foreign visitors, including implementing visa-free entry policies for numerous countries, the air travel between the world's two largest economies remains constrained. This discrepancy raises questions about the future of bilateral travel and what it means for international business and tourism.
For those planning to travel between China and the US, the high airfares and limited flight choices continue to pose challenges. As both countries navigate the post-pandemic landscape, more time and negotiations may be needed to restore the robust flight connections that once existed.
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Where have the flights from Beijing to Washington or New York gone?
cgtn.com
