United Freezes 42 U.S.–China Flights as San Francisco, Chicago and Newark Routes to Beijing and Shanghai Remain Suspended – Delta, American, and China Eastern Watch Closely Now

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United Airlines has formally requested that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) extend its waiver for 42 weekly U.S.-mainland China flights that are not planned to operate during the summer 2026 travel season. This waiver is a continuation of temporary relief measures introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which have been extended multiple times to accommodate fluctuating travel demands.

While the carrier has committed to operating 24 flights per week to mainland China for the upcoming summer season, including popular routes from San Francisco to Shanghai and Beijing and Los Angeles to both Chinese cities, it will not reinstate additional frequencies on certain routes. United’s request comes as the airline continues to navigate a challenging recovery period for international travel to China.

For travelers looking to visit China or explore connections from the U.S. to other parts of Asia, this move impacts both existing options and future planning. United’s summer 2026 schedule highlights the current state of air travel between the U.S. and China, which still hasn’t fully rebounded to pre-pandemic levels.

United Airlines’ Planned Service to Mainland China for Summer 2026

United’s request to extend the waiver means that travelers will still have access to critical routes to mainland China, even if the airline will not be operating certain frequencies. The routes United plans to operate for summer 2026 include:

• San Francisco to Shanghai Pudong – 7 flights per week
• San Francisco to Beijing Capital – 7 flights per week
• Los Angeles to Shanghai – 7 flights per week
• Los Angeles to Beijing – 3 flights per week

These services will remain the primary way for U.S. travelers to fly to major Chinese cities during the summer months, with San Francisco and Los Angeles serving as key hubs for these long-haul flights. Travelers planning to visit China will be able to access these destinations, but the absence of additional flights on routes such as Newark to Beijing or Chicago to Shanghai may limit options.

What Does This Waiver Extension Mean for U.S.-China Travel?

The waiver extension United is requesting reflects the ongoing difficulties in U.S.-China air travel recovery. Despite a steady rise in global travel, the U.S.-China market has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, which has led to limited flight capacity. United’s request, which includes routes like Chicago to Beijing and San Francisco to Shanghai (second daily service), highlights the airline’s cautious approach to rebuilding services between the two countries.

For travelers, this means fewer options for direct flights to China from certain U.S. cities, especially for those located in the Midwest or on the East Coast. Cities like Chicago, Newark, and Washington Dulles—historically key departure points for flights to China—will not see additional services during the summer peak season.

For the tourism industry, this continued limitation of capacity poses challenges. While some demand has returned, it is not yet at the level where carriers can justify a full recovery of all pre-pandemic frequencies. Consequently, travel planners and tourists may need to adjust expectations for flights to China, particularly when planning multi-stop itineraries or looking for connections that used to be more frequent.

Impact on Chinese Tourism and U.S. Travelers

Despite the current limitations, the service United Airlines will continue to operate remains an essential part of the broader U.S.-China tourism landscape. Shanghai and Beijing are two of the largest tourism hubs in China, attracting visitors for business, leisure, and cultural experiences. Travelers from the U.S. seeking to explore China’s rich history, visit iconic landmarks like the Great Wall, Forbidden City, and Terracotta Warriors, or experience modern urban life in Shanghai will still have viable flight options.

However, the limitations on the number of flights available could impact the flow of tourism, especially from U.S. cities that are not directly connected to China. Without the reinstatement of additional flights, tourists may face higher prices and more limited flexibility when booking trips to China, particularly during peak travel periods like summer 2026.

For U.S. tourists looking to travel to China, this means the need to plan earlier, as competition for seats on these routes may increase. As demand slowly rises, travelers will likely face more crowded flights and limited availability on some routes.

The Road Ahead for U.S.-China Air Travel

As United Airlines navigates the ongoing challenges in the U.S.-China air travel market, this waiver extension signals a cautious approach to rebuilding its full network of flights. The waiver relief from dormancy and start-up conditions, initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, has allowed the airline to scale its services more carefully, avoiding overcapacity in a market still struggling to recover.

For U.S. and Chinese travelers alike, the situation remains fluid. While United’s plans for summer 2026 offer important connections, both sides of the market are still adjusting to shifting demand and the broader global travel landscape. The waiver extension may continue beyond summer 2026, depending on how the market evolves and the ongoing recovery from the pandemic.

As international travel continues to rebound, the hope is that both the U.S. and China will see a return to normal service levels on a wider scale, restoring the number of available frequencies to pre-pandemic levels and further enhancing tourism opportunities between the two nations.