US airlines refuse Air China bid to increase US-China flights

A group representing major US airlines said on Friday ​it opposes Air China’s bid to schedule additional flights from Beijing ‌to New York and Washington, reports Reuters. The original bid came as part of Leader Xi Jinping’s planned meeting with President Donald Trump.

Airlines for America, which represents American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and others, ​opposed the request because US airlines are effectively banned from flying ​from the US east coast to China because they cannot access ⁠Russian airspace, while Chinese carriers can for some US flights.

US airlines have long criticized the decision to allow Chinese carriers to use Russian airspace on US ​routes because it ​gives them the ⁠advantage of decreased flying time and burns less fuel, lowering costs.