International flights to China resume as coronavirus restrictions ease

International airlines are starting to resume flights to China after a loosening of aviation restrictions brought in as part of the country’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lufthansa restarted flights to the mainland this week, flying once a week between Frankfurt and Shanghai in the first regular scheduled flights operated by the German carrier since the pandemic began. “The flights between Shanghai and Frankfurt are hopefully only the first of further Lufthansa Group connections in the coming weeks and months between mainland China and our home markets Germany, Austria, and Switzerland,” said Veli Polat, Lufthansa’s head of sales for Greater China. United will resume its route between San Francisco and Shanghai, via Seoul, beginning July 8, according to a company statement, while Delta restarted its China flights this week with twice-weekly trips into Shanghai. This came after China and the US backed away from a dispute over aviation travel, in a positive development against a larger backdrop of worsening relations between the two countries. In a reciprocal arrangement, two flights per week for each airline will be permitted. Other foreign airlines will be allowed a basic frequency of one flight per week. “Resuming service to Shanghai from the United States is a significant step in rebuilding our international network,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s VP of international network and alliances.<br/>