BEIJING — Fewer than 6% of U.S. flights to and from mainland China that existed in 2019 have resumed, in line with a Nomura report.
In contrast, flights between mainland China and Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Italy are nearly back to pre-pandemic frequency or more, the report showed, citing data as of May 22 from Variflight.
“We predict geopolitical aspects in China’s outbound tourism revival … are clearly at play here,” Nomura’s Chief China Economist Ting Lu and a team said within the report Monday.
In March, China brokered the restoration of diplomatic ties between Middle East rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran. Beijing has refused to sentence Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, while calling for peace talks.
Tensions between the U.S. and China have meanwhile simmered. China’s ambassador to the U.S. assumed office last week after a niche of about six months with nobody within the position.
This past weekend, an Air China flight between Beijing and Recent York marked the primary direct passenger on the route by a Chinese carrier in months. It was one in every of the 4 latest weekly flights between the 2 countries by Chinese airlines that the U.S. Department of Transportation approved in May.
Previously, the one regular direct flights by Chinese carriers between mainland China and Recent York because the pandemic were from Shanghai and Guangzhou. The cross-border non-stop flights also cover Los Angeles.
Flights of Air China are parked on the tarmac of Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, China, March 28, 2016.
Kim Kyung Hoon | Reuters
In March, Delta announced it resumed direct flights between the U.S. and China — from Shanghai to Seattle and Detroit.
Overall, mainland China’s international flights stays below 40% of 2019 levels, the Nomura report said.
The analysts expect that level to choose as much as 70% by the top of the yr as international flights recuperate across the summer holiday season.
