U.S. airlines, unions ask officials to pause China flight increases

NEW YORK -- The United States' largest airlines and several aviation industry unions have asked the Biden administration to pause additional flight increases between the U.S. and China, citing concerns over "existing harmful anti-competitive policies of the Chinese government," according to a joint letter published on Thursday.

Chinese carriers were permitted to increase the weekly number of roundtrip flights to the U.S. from 35 to 50 -- the same number granted to U.S. carriers -- starting on March 31, following a U.S. Department of Transportation approval in February.