In April, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) approved four new flights by Chinese airlines to and from the US, increasing the number of weekly flights from eight to 12.
These flights are a small fraction of the more than 150 round-trip flights allowed by each side before restrictions were imposed in early 2020 due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
The new flights include a weekly Air China flight from Beijing to New York, a weekly China Eastern Shanghai-Los Angeles flight, a third weekly Xiamen Airlines flight from Xiamen to Los Angeles, and a second weekly China Southern flight from Guangzhou to Los Angeles.
The Xiamen and China Southern flights were both effective on May 30.
Previously, the US had barred Chinese airlines and other foreign carriers from flying over its airspace, in retaliation for Russia barring US flights over its territory.
However, there was no information available if the Chinese carriers had agreed to avoid Russian airspace for the newly approved flights.
Some industry officials noted that the Chinese carriers could save up to 1,000 nautical miles and an hour of flying time by avoiding Russian airspace.
Airlines for America, which represents major US carriers, had praised the move in February, noting long-standing industry concerns about flying over Russia.
The US had previously restricted Chinese flights in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
It is unclear if the US had made a similar request for Chinese airlines to avoid Russian airspace for the newly approved flights.
Overall, the gradual rise to 12 flights for China and the United States is a "measured pace that we are likely to see," according to USDOT Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs Annie Petsonk.
She added that there is certainly great interest on both sides in moving forward.