Both carriers have cited ongoing market challenges and reduced travel demand as reasons for their requests.
Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are requesting extensions from the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) for unused flight frequencies between the U.S. and mainland China as capacity between the two countries remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels.
Both carriers have cited ongoing market challenges and reduced travel demand as reasons for their requests. Delta is seeking a dormancy waiver for 28 of its 42 weekly frequencies to China for the upcoming winter season, which runs from Oct. 27, 2024, to March 29, 2025. United is requesting a similar waiver for 42 of its 63 weekly frequencies, planning to operate only 21 during the same period.
The requests come as part of the air transport agreement between the U.S. and China, which allows U.S. airlines to operate routes to China with DOT approval, provided they fulfill these flights or risk losing them. The DOT began issuing waivers during the pandemic and has continued to extend them while slowly reinstating operations for both U.S. and Chinese airlines.
Delta currently operates daily flights from Seattle and Detroit to Shanghai, but seeks to delay the restart of four other routes: Atlanta-Shanghai, Detroit-Beijing, Los Angeles-Shanghai and Seattle-Beijing.
Meanwhile, United plans to offer daily flights between Los Angeles and Shanghai, San Francisco and Beijing, and San Francisco and Shanghai this winter. However, the airline wants to extend the waiver on six routes: Chicago-Beijing, Chicago-Shanghai, Newark-Beijing, Newark-Shanghai, Washington-Beijing and an additional seven weekly frequencies on San Francisco-Shanghai.
Both carriers have praised the DOT for balancing flight reinstatements with market demand and expect that further waivers may be needed.
American Airlines has not yet requested a waiver extension for the winter 2024-25 season, but continues to operate just seven of its 21 weekly frequencies, flying daily between Dallas-Fort Worth and Shanghai.
The Delta and United applications to extend the temporary dormancy waiver for the unused U.S.-China frequencies come as capacity between the countries continues to lag—a consequence of geopolitical issues and lower business travel demand. According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, there are about 241,000 available two-way seats during September 2024, marking a reduction of 72% on 2019 levels.
The DOT has allowed Chinese airlines 50 roundtrip flights per week since March 31, while U.S. airlines are also allowed 50 per week. However, before the pandemic, 150 flights operated each week between the world’s top two economies. U.S. airlines are currently operating a combined 39 roundtrip flights per week, while Chinese carriers are using the full 50 frequencies permitted.
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