🎙️ Voice is AI-generated. Inconsistencies may occur.
The Department of Transportation announced new travel restrictions on Wednesday that will prevent passenger flights operated by Chinese airlines from entering or leaving the United States.
An order formally issued by the department calls for the suspension of all scheduled flights to and from the U.S. by June 16 at the latest. It said restrictions may be effected immediately if directed by President Donald Trump. According to Reuters, Trump is expected to announce the travel ban later on Wednesday.
The DOT's latest order followed an initial complaint filed on May 22, in which the federal agency said the Civil Aviation Authority of China (CAAC) had not responded to applications from U.S. airlines with requests to resume full passenger service by June. The airlines mentioned—United, Delta and American—previously suspended flights between the U.S. and China earlier during the new coronavirus pandemic.
In March, the CAAC released travel regulations that limited international flights and restricted routes to and from China. It applied to all airline carriers, including those based in China. On May 25, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Foreign affairs responded to DOT's complaint, saying flight restrictions impacted all airlines equally, Reuters reported.
In its Wednesday order, the DOT said some Chinese airlines have continued to operate passenger flights to and from the U.S., while U.S. airlines have not. It argued that the difference in service violated terms of the U.S.-China Civil Air Transport agreement and contributed to "an environment that affords Chinese carriers more favorable treatment than U.S. carriers, thereby denying U.S. carriers a 'fair and equal opportunity to compete.'"
"This action responds to the failure of the Government of the People's Republic of China to permit U.S. carriers to exercise their bilateral rights to conduct passenger air service to China," the order stated. "Currently, four Chinese carriers and no U.S. carriers operate scheduled passenger flights between the United States and China. U.S. carriers have asked to resume passenger service, beginning June 1st. The Chinese government's failure to approve their requests is a violation of our Air Transport Agreement."
In an additional statement sent to Newsweek, DOT said it would "continue to engage our Chinese counterparts" until China- and U.S.-owned airlines "can fully exercise their bilateral rights" to travel between countries.
"In the meantime, we will allow Chinese carriers to operate the same number of scheduled passenger flights as the Chinese government allows ours," the statement continued.
Responding to the DOT's order to suspend passenger flights from China, a Delta Airlines spokesperson told Newsweek, "We support and appreciate the U.S. government's actions to enforce our rights and ensure fairness."
Newsweek reached out to American Airlines and United Airlines for comments but did not receive replies in time for publication.
