US DoT will subject Chinese carrier applications for charters to 'the highest degree of scrutiny'

US Department of Transportation (DoT) reported (03-Jun-2020) Chinese carriers applying for passenger charters to the US will in future be subject to "the highest degree of scrutiny", following information it received "through diplomatic channels that Chinese carriers may be using passenger charter operations as a way of circumventing the CAAC Notice limitations on scheduled passenger services and thereby further increasing their advantage over US carriers in providing US-China passenger services". The DoT further stated: "No Chinese carrier should assume that approval of any such applications will necessarily be forthcoming". [more - original PR]