US will limit some Chinese passenger air carriers to 40% capacity - order

The US DoT on Wednesday said it will limit some flights from Chinese carriers to 40% passenger capacity for four weeks after the Chinese government imposed similar limits on four United Airlines flights. China told United on Aug. 6 it was imposing sanctions after it alleged five passengers who traveled from San Francisco to Shanghai tested positive for COVID-19 on July 21. The US order said the department will limit over a four-week period each of four Chinese carriers to 40% capacity on a single China-US flight. The US government says China’s “circuit breaker” policy violates the nations’ air services agreement and “places undue culpability on carriers with respect to travelers that test positive for COVID-19 after their arrival in China.” The department added carriers “have no means to independently verify positive test results alleged by Chinese authorities. Furthermore, there is no way to establish where or when a traveler may have contracted.” Chinese authorities gave United three options: cancel two San Francisco to Shanghai flights; operate two without passengers; or operate four flights with up to 40% of passenger capacity. The limits were imposed on four Wednesday United San Francisco-Shanghai flights, beginning with an Aug. 11 flight. The Biden administration said it will impose identical limits on four total flights over four weeks - one each from Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Xiamen Airlines.<br/>