Major US airlines oppose Air China bid to schedule additional US flights

Major US airline representatives are opposing Air China’s request to schedule additional flights from Beijing to New York and Washington, citing disadvantages tied to airspace access. Airlines for America, which counts American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines among its members, said Chinese carriers can use Russian airspace for some US routes, while US airlines can’t fly from the US East Coast to China for the same itinerary constraints. Two flights were sought for this week and next week, but the group argues adding them could open the door for Chinese airlines to expand regular service and should be treated as charter flights. The dispute follows a 2025 US DOT proposal to restrict Chinese carriers from overflying Russia, later shelved for talks.