(Washington) Washington announced Friday that it has suspended 44 passenger flights from the United States to China due to the health restrictions related to COVID-19 imposed by Beijing on American airlines.
Posted yesterday at 11:38 p.m.
China maintains very strict control over entry into its territory, including the cancellation of flights if the number of cases on board an aircraft is too high.
China’s aviation authority has used the policy to cancel American, Delta and United Airlines flights when passengers who tested negative before takeoff later tested positive upon arrival in China.
The US Department of Transportation wrote in its order Friday that this action is contrary to the public interest, harms the operations of Delta, American and United and requires remedial action by the department.
“American companies that follow all Chinese rules related to pre-takeoff and in-flight protocols should not be penalized if after arrival passengers test positive for COVID-19,” it added.
The 44 affected flights are operated by Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines and Xiamen Airlines and were scheduled between January 30 and March 29.
The move came less than three weeks before the start of the Winter Olympics hosted by Beijing.