Recently, due to the decline in geopolitical issues and business travel demand between the United States and China, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have applied to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to extend the exemption period for idle flights between the United States and China that began during the pandemic. Currently, air capacity between the two countries is significantly lower than pre-pandemic levels.
According to Aviation Week, both airlines cited ongoing market challenges and reduced travel demand as reasons for their applications. Delta Air Lines plans to reduce 28 out of 42 weekly flights this winter (from October 27 to March 29, 2025), operating only 14 flights, requiring exemptions for the idle 28 flights. United Airlines plans to operate 21 out of 63 weekly flights during this period, reducing 42 flights and also applying for exemptions for the idle 42 flights.
These applications are part of the U.S.-China air transport agreement, which allows U.S. airlines to operate flights to China with the Department of Transportation’s approval under the condition that they must operate these flights, or risk losing them. The U.S. Department of Transportation began issuing flight exemptions at the start of the pandemic and has continually extended the exemption period, waiting for both U.S. and Chinese airlines’ capacities to recover.
According to data from the Schedules Analyser of the global travel data provider OAG, there are approximately 241,000 available idle seats in both directions in September this year, marking a 72% decrease in seat utilization compared to the same period in 2019.
Since March 31, the U.S. Department of Transportation has allowed Chinese airlines to operate 50 flights per week between the U.S. and China, matching the allocation for U.S. airlines. However, currently, U.S. airlines are only operating 39 roundtrip flights per week, while Chinese airlines are operating 50 flights. Before the pandemic, there were 150 flights operated weekly between the U.S. and China.