The United States allowed China to increase the number of passenger flights

Washington will allow Chinese airlines to increase direct passenger flights to the United States as it takes another step in the gradual restoration of air services affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and the dispute over air travel between the two countries.

Starting March 31, Chinese carriers will be able to operate 50 weekly flights to/from the United States, up from 35 now, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) said in a statement, CNN reports.

But even with the increase, this is still only a fraction of the more than 150 weekly round-trip flights allowed by each side before the coronavirus restrictions were imposed in early 2020.

The Transport Ministry said it made the decision after assessing market conditions and taking into account public interests.

It is "a significant step forward in further normalizing the U.S.-China market in anticipation of the 2024 summer shipping season," the statement said.

The move marks the fifth time a U.S. regulator has increased the quota granted to Chinese carriers since China reopened after COVID. The first was in May 2023.

As TravelWise wrote, the first cruise ship made in China sailed from Shanghai in January this year.