Americans are Testing Positive in China..China Says, Cancel flights

The forced flight cancellations stem from a 2020 CAAC rule that requires the suspension of a route for two weeks if 5-9 arriving passengers test positive for COVID-19 “after arrival,” or for four weeks if more than 10 passengers test positive. US-China flights also must be limited to a 75% load factor.
Citing the rule, CAAC forced the grounding of both Delta’s routes to China. Its weekly Detroit (DTW)-Seoul (ICN)-Shanghai (PVG) route has been grounded for four weeks, while its Seattle (SEA)-ICN-PVG route has also been temporarily suspended.
“I can confirm that six of our flights between Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Shanghai have been canceled,” an American Airlines spokesperson told Routes.
United Airlines confirmed it was forced by the CAAC to cancel flights on its San Francisco (SFO)-PVG route scheduled for Jan. 15, 19, 21, 22, 26 and 28.
“China’s actions are inconsistent with its obligations under the US-China Air Transport Agreement,” a DOT spokesperson told Routes. “We are engaging with the [Chinese government] on this and we retain the right to take regulatory measures as appropriate.”
DOT has previously complained that the CAAC rule places “undue culpability” on airlines, which follow protocol prior to departure to China—when all passengers are required to submit negative COVID-19 tests—and have no way of verifying the Chinese government’s claims of positive tests or when passengers may have contracted COVID-19. Delta was informed by the CAAC that one of its flights had seven passengers who tested positive within eight days of arriving in China, meaning it is possible some or all of those passengers contracted COVID-19 after arriving in China.