(Yicai Global) June 4 -- China eased its controls on international passenger flights today, adjusting the number of allowed overseas airlines based on the number of their passengers testing positive for Covid-19 starting June 8. 

All eligible foreign airlines not included in the last flight schedule can pick up a port city able to handle international flights to operate a once-a-week flight from June 8, per a document the Civil Aviation Administration of China issued today.

International routes running by Chinese and overseas airlines can continue only if listed in the CAAC's international flight timetable since March 12 and must follow the once-a-week for each country rule, per the earlier policy.

The new regime means more foreign airlines should get cleared, benefiting American Airlines, which voluntarily shelved all its flights to the country before March 12 and other US ones without CAAC clearance, like Delta Air Lines and United Airlines.

Each carrier must obtain a local government letter that affirms their epidemic prevention and guarantee status before arranging new flights to prevent excess arrivals in only a few cities, per the CAAC notice.

Carrot and Stick

China will adopt incentives and 'circuit-breaker' measures for international flights starting June 8. Airlines will be allowed up to two per week if they have no Covid-19 cases for three straight weeks.

Carriers will be barred from running a flight for a week if five or more passengers on one carry coronavirus. If 10 or more turn up on one flight, CAAC will ban it for four weeks. Such airlines can only resume a once-a-week schedule after the circuit-breaker period ends.

Some international routes have already been put on ice for having too many contagions, Yicai Global has learned.

"By allowing foreign airlines that didn't have authorization in March one flight, the policy adjustment raises the number of flights, with weekly international ones expected to reach around 407, three times as many as before," Lin Zhijie, a civil aviation professional told Yicai Global. Setting up this incentive and sanction mechanism can spur air companies’ initiative, lower epidemic pressure, and give airlines, passengers and foreign governments clear expectations, Lin added.

The US will stop Chinese flights on June 16, its Transportation Department said yesterday. The agency has received no permit for US carriers to conduct scheduled passenger services to and from China and is thus ending all scheduled Chinese ones between the two countries, per the statement.

Editor: Ben Armour