Biden Suspends 44 Flights From China

More back and forth from the Biden administration with a superpower in the East. While he matches wits with Putin on the border of Ukraine, he adds a new foe to the dance. Biden returned the favor after China imposed cancelations of flights out of America due to passengers with positive COVID tests. So the administration announced it suspended 44 flights of their own out of China on Friday. 

China’s Flight Cancelation

The Chinese government canceled flights operated by multiple airlines after passengers tested positive for COVID after arriving in China. The passengers had tested negative before getting on their planes. The U.S. Transportation Department called the action punitive and unfair. 

China’s aviation authority canceled the flights using a “circuit breaker” provision. This provision allows the country to limit the spread of the virus. China’s policies allow airlines that deliver passengers who later test positive for the virus to choose one of multiple options. Either they complete a two-week suspension of the flight or a four-week limit on the capacity of that flight. The U.S. companies never received that choice, and China denied the four-week notice, the Transportation Department said.

Biden’s Response

The order suspends 44 flights from the United States to China scheduled from January 30 to March 29. The flights affected carry the names of Air China, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines. Most depart from Los Angeles, with the others departing from New York. France and Germany took similar actions in response to China’s circuit breaker policy.

The dispute goes back to 2020 and early COVID concerns. In 2020, the Trump administration backed down from a threat to block four Chinese airlines because China agreed to let airlines operate a limited number of flights.

China reignited the dispute in August 2021 when they limited the number of passengers on United flights. The U.S. Transportation Department returned fire with limitations as well.