American Airlines wants to hold off on ramping up its service to China from the United States.

The carrier has asked the U.S. Transportation Department for permission to delay two daily flights to the country, according to Reuters.

American Airlines attributed its request to sluggish consumer interest in travel to China.

Currently, the airline operates one daily flight from Dallas, Texas to Shanghai. It is requesting a waiver to hold off on the additional two daily flights to the country.

Per Reuters, American Airlines has said: ”U.S.–China passenger demand has not recovered to pre-pandemic levels.”

American Airlines isn’t the only U.S.-based carrier making such a move. Both Delta Air Lines and United Airlines have filed similar requests with the government agency. Both want permission to hold off on operating many China flights.

Just last week, Delta submitted its own request to the Transportation Department seeking to hold off on resuming four daily flights to China.  The carrier also cited market challenges, according to Reuters.

Delta is currently offering daily flights from Seattle and Detroit to Shanghai. It is seeking permission to delay resuming two more flights to Shanghai, as well as two that would service Beijing.

Untied meanwhile, wants to be let off the hook for six of its nine daily flights to the country.

The airline requests come despite the fact that tourism to China appears to be surging, at least according to some data. During the first seven months of 2024 the number of foreign visitors to
the country reached 17.25 million, which is a record 129.9 percent
increase year over year, according to news published by The State Council for The People’s Republic of China.

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