United States bans 44 passenger flights to China in a tit for tat move

The United States in a rather tit for tat counter move yesterday announced that it would suspend 44 Chinese passenger flights from America to China. The development comes after Beijing restricted the entry of US passenger flights as part of its Covid-19 protocol.

The 44 flights suspended by the United States were operated by Chinese carriers–China Southern Airlines, Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines.

The flights were scheduled to fly from the US between January 30 and March 29.

As part of its “circuit breaker” policy, China is letting the international flyers within its borders. It halts the routes where too many infections are brought in on flights.

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The Chinese aviation authority used the circuit breaker policy to cancel flights by American, Delta, and United airlines after passengers who tested negative for Coronavius before takeoff later tested positive after reaching China.

In its order issued on Friday, the US Department of Transportation wrote, “actions impairing the operations of Delta, American and United as described above are adverse to the public interest and warrant proportionate remedial action by the department.”

It further said, “US carriers, who are following all relevant Chinese regulations with respect to pre-departure and in-flight protocols, should not be penalized if passengers, post-arrival, later test positive for Covid-19.”