United Airlines is seeking an extension of the dormancy waiver for flights to China after scaling back planned service to the country during the forthcoming winter 2023-24 season.
The Chicago-based carrier has told the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) it does not plan to operate 49 out of the 63 assigned frequencies to China during the period and has therefore requested an extension to a waiver that has been in place since the onset of the pandemic.
The DOT initially granted a waiver in March 2020, allowing airlines to keep their assigned frequencies on flights to and from China until October 2020. This has subsequently been extended several times, but is due to expire at the end of the summer 2023 season.
United says it “applauds” the department for “its efforts to date on reinstating frequencies for airlines of the U.S. and mainland China with a measured approach that ensures parity for airlines of each country and that matches capacity with demand.”
But the airline adds: “As the department knows, while a portion of U.S.–mainland China frequencies held by U.S. airlines, including United, have been approved to recommence in the forthcoming winter season, additional frequencies remain suspended, which underscores the need for an extension of the dormancy waiver through the upcoming IATA winter season.
“United believes it is likely that additional extensions of the dormancy waiver will be necessary but will make requests for additional extensions as we approach IATA summer 2024 and seasons beyond.”
United resumed nonstop flights from the U.S. to mainland China in January, having served Shanghai Pudong (PVG) via Seoul Incheon for much of the pandemic. The airline operates four flights per week between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and PVG at present, but frequencies are scheduled to increase to daily from Oct. 1.
In addition, daily SFO-Beijing Capital (PEK) flights will return at the start of the winter season, meaning that the Star Alliance member expects to provide a total of 14X-weekly flights to and from China during winter 2023-24.
However, the latest schedules have been scaled back in recent weeks. Data provided by OAG Schedules Analyser shows that United had previously filed plans to offer nine nonstop U.S.-China routes this winter. Alongside the SFO-PVG and SFO-PEK routes, the airline intended to fly to PEK from Chicago O’Hare (ORD), Newark (EWR) and Washington Dulles, and to PVG from EWR, Los Angeles and ORD. SFO-Chengdu was also scheduled to resume.
Total capacity between the U.S. and China has been slow to recover since China reopened its borders in January because of geopolitical tensions. However, the two countries agreed in August to gradually ramp up capacity and air service. Two-way capacity stands at 19,300 seats during the week commencing Sept. 11, according to OAG data, compared with 195,000 seats at this time in 2019.
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