What’s new: The French government plans to limit Chinese airlines to one passenger flight to France a week, citing a “reciprocity” principle, according to a Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) document reviewed by Caixin.
The document didn’t provide an effective date. Reuters reported that the restriction went into effect Monday, citing a statement from the French embassy in Beijing.
The background: Many of the passenger flights between France and China were halted earlier this year amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, there is only one flight a week by French airlines between the two countries while Chinese airlines operate three flights.
The French government previously requested that Chinese authorities increase the number of flights by its carriers to China to three, but that was declined, according to a source close to the CAAC. It then resorted to restricting Chinese airlines’ flights to France, the source said.
Related: U.S. Rejects Additional Flights Sought by Chinese Airlines to ‘Maintain Parity’
Contact reporter Mo Yelin (yelinmo@caixin.com) and editor Bob Simison (bobsmison@caixin.com)
