In this March 12, 2019 photo, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 for China Southern Airlines, front, is pictured at the Boeing Renton Factory in Renton, Washington. (JASON REDMOND / AFP)

The United States has announced that it has scrapped a ban on Chinese passenger airlines from flying to the country, effective immediately.

The Civil Aviation Administration of China had said that it would allow all foreign airlines to choose from a list of approved Chinese cities to and from which there could be one weekly international passenger flight to China

The order, made public on Friday, allows Chinese carriers to operate "in the aggregate" two weekly round-trip scheduled passenger flights to and from the US, half the number that Chinese officials allow the country's airlines to fly to the US.

The move was necessary "to restore a competitive balance and fair and equal opportunity among US and Chinese air carriers in the scheduled passenger service marketplace," the US Department of Transportation said.

The department named Air China, Beijing Capital Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Sichuan Airlines and Xiamen Airlines in the order. It said the Civil Aviation Administration of China, or CAAC, may communicate by letter which carrier or carriers it selects to operate each or both of these services. Selection may be modified with 30 days' written notice.

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The order says the department's goal is to provide "an improved environment wherein the carriers of both parties will be able to exercise fully their bilateral rights. The most recent CAAC decision has not created that environment".

"However, should the CAAC adjust its policies to bring about the necessary improved situation for US carriers, the department is fully prepared to once again revisit the action it announced in (a previous order) and the present order."

The CAAC had said on Thursday that it would allow all foreign airlines to choose from a list of approved Chinese cities to and from which there could be one weekly international passenger flight to China, starting from Monday.

The revisions to the previous order, issued on March 26, also include "incentive measures" that would allow a carrier to increase, or alternatively, require it to reduce the weekly frequency of flights based on criteria relating to the health of passengers arriving on flights from China.

The number of international flights into China would rise by 50 from Monday to about 150 a week, the CAAC said.

A spokesman for the US Department of Transportation said China's move was a positive step, though a small one that did not restore the full level of flying that US airlines are seeking.

On Wednesday the US said it would suspend the scheduled passenger operations of all Chinese air carriers to and from the US from June 16.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Zhao Lijian said the next day that China regretted the US threat to its airlines.

In recent negotiations on resuming flights, "the two sides had made some progress, and the Chinese had announced relevant policy adjustments", Zhao said at a daily media briefing.

"We hope that the US will not create obstacles for the two sides to solve the problem."

The Transportation Department is still calling for US airlines to be allowed to restore their services. United Airlines Holdings Inc is seeking to resume three China routes, and Delta Air Lines Inc wants to resume two.

"We support and appreciate continued US government efforts to ensure fairness and access to China," a Delta spokeswoman said in a statement obtained by the US broadcaster CNBC. United Airlines said it is reviewing the Department of Transportation order.

A graduate student at the University of California in Los Angeles, or UCLA, who wished to remain anonymous said that because the order does not specify which airlines are allowed to enter the US, it is difficult for Chinese students looking to book tickets to make a decision.

'Like a lottery'

"The problem is we don't know until almost the end of the month which carrier or carriers will be flying to and from the US next month, so for many Chinese students buying tickets is like a lottery."

In the past two weeks, protesters have taken to the streets throughout the US over the death of George Floyd. Those protests, as well as the continuing spread of the virus in the country have had many Chinese international students and overseas Chinese on edge and considering returning to China.

The UCLA student said her Chinese classmates are divided on whether they should stay in the US or go home. Some see returning to China as the safest option, while others are eager to continue with their studies in the US. Some strongly tempted to return fear it would be difficult for them to obtain a visa in the future so they could return.

Further exacerbating the problem is the cost and scarcity of flights.

"The only channel to get your hands on a ticket back home is through a scalper," the UCLA student said.

The student, who is back in China, said the cheapest one-way flight to China costs about 40,000 yuan ($5,640), and the price for a direct flight starts at 80,000 yuan.

She had bought six tickets since the end of March, but all those flights were canceled. She eventually had no choice but to go through a scalper to obtain her tickets, she said.

A Chinese student at California State University in Northridge who wished to remain anonymous called the latest revision to the Chinese airlines' ban good news but said he hopes the government can provide more details about its policy soon.

Most Chinese students at his school are considering returning home because of the recent protests and because of courses for the fall semester being moved online, he said.

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In addition to the social unrest and the coronavirus, another problem Chinese students face is their visas expiring.

Ai Qi, 25, of Arcadia, California, who completed her graduate studies in the US and has now worked for almost a year after graduation, said her optional practical training is due to end soon.

"When that ends I'll no longer be allowed to work in the US, but I can't afford a plane ticket back home, so my problem is having enough money to live for the next several months."

Friday's announcement is a good sign because it means the two countries are relaxing their policies and making progress, she said.

Yi Zong in Washington contributed to this story.

Contact the writers through teresaliu@chinadailyusa.com.