By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The USA will permit Chinese language airways to extend U.S. passenger providers to 12 weekly round-trips, the Transportation Division (USDOT) mentioned on Wednesday, equal to the variety of flights Beijing has permitted for American carriers.

It’s a increase from the eight weekly round-trip flights at present allowed by Chinese language carriers and matches what Beijing has permitted for U.S. carriers, however a small fraction of the greater than 150 round-trip flights allowed by either side earlier than restrictions have been imposed in early 2020 as a result of COVID-19 pandemic.

USDOT’s order mentioned its purpose was “a gradual, broader reopening of the U.S.-China air providers market.” China in March reopened its borders to international vacationers for the primary time within the three years after abandoning COVID-related border controls for its personal residents in January.

U.S. carriers American Airways (NASDAQ:), Delta Air Strains (NYSE:), and United Airways function scheduled passenger providers between the international locations, as do Chinese language operators Xiamen Airways, Air China (OTC:), China Southern Airways and China Jap Airways (OTC:).

USDOT famous American started working two extra roundtrip weekly flights to Shanghai from Texas in March after Chinese language pandemic restrictions have been dropped.

USDOT mentioned in its order that Chinese language restrictions on air journey “had, and proceed to have, a devastating impact on the U.S.-China air transport market.”

U.S. airways and different international carriers are barred from flying over Russia in retaliation for the USA banning Russia from flights over the U.S. in March 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine.

In February, two key senators issued a letter urging the Biden administration to halt Chinese language airways and different non-American carriers from flying over Russia on U.S. routes, which supplies them a bonus in gasoline burn and flying time.

Airways for America, which represents main U.S. carriers, in February praised the senators’ letter, noting it underscored longstanding business considerations concerning Russian overflights that had deprived American passenger and cargo carriers.