SINGAPORE—The U.S. and China have agreed to gradually ramp up capacity and air services between the two countries, with the eventual goal of doubling current numbers by Oct. 29 this year.

The U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) announced it will increase passenger flights from China to the U.S. from 12 per week to 18X-weekly on Sept.1, followed by a hike to 24X-weekly from Oct. 29.

The first phase of increased flights is designed to support the “anticipated increase in demand around the start of the academic year,” DOT said.

The flights will be operated by Air China, American Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines, United Airlines, and Xiamen Airlines.

CAPA – Centre for Aviation and OAG Schedules Analyser data shows there are currently 7,583 one-way seats between the world’s two largest economies, compared to 3,419 seats a year ago, when only Chinese carriers operated.

United Airlines said it will reinstate its San Francisco-Beijing route this November and plans to increase frequencies to Shanghai with daily flights from San Francisco from Oct. 1. 

The U.S. DOT’s decision follows shortly on the heels of China including the U.S. in its revised list of approved destinations for outbound tour groups. It remains unclear whether the capacity increase is part of a reciprocal move.

Geopolitical tensions between the two countries have prevented the rapid capacity recovery seen across the rest of the world. IATA data indicates that some of the fastest-growing markets are the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, and the UK. 

The lack of direct connections between the U.S. and China has benefited Asia-Pacific hubs like Hong Kong, Seoul, and Tokyo, which have seen an uptick in Chinese transit passengers to North America.