Delta Air Lines re-started service between Seattle and Shanghai-Pudong via Seoul-Incheon on June 25, operating twice per week. From July and beyond, it will also operate once-weekly flights from Seattle and Detroit, also via Incheon.
Delta is the first U.S. airline to re-connect the U.S. and China since the temporary suspension in February due to the outbreak of COVID-19, although it advised passengers that seat availability may be limited due to limited operations.
United Airlines says that it will resume service to China with twice-weekly flights between San Francisco and Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport via Seoul’s Incheon International Airport beginning July 8, 2020.
Prior to suspending service to Shanghai in February due to COVID-19, United was the largest U.S. carrier serving China and operated five daily flights between Shanghai and its hubs in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and New York/Newark. United has served Shanghai for more than 30 years.
United will also reinstate service between Chicago and Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong and Singapore via a stop at Hong Kong.
In June, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) also welcomed the return of international service from: China Airlines to Taipei, operating one passenger flight per week; United Airlines to Frankfurt, three flights per week; British Airways with daily passenger flights to London; Philippine Airlines to Manila, with plans for two flights per week; Cathay Pacific to Hong Kong, with plans for three passenger flights per week; and Lufthansa to Munich, with three flights per week (as of June 23).
The European Union is opening its borders to visitors from 15 countries as of July 1, but not to travelers from the United States, Brazil or Russia due to the high numbers of active COVID-19 cases in these countries.
