US-China Direct Flight Capacity Increases for Spring 2026
flights • 1 March 2026
United Airlines and Air China have jointly announced expanded direct flight services between the United States and China for the spring 2026 season. Starting March 15, United will add a daily San Francisco–Shanghai route, complementing its existing services from Newark and Los Angeles. Air China is also resuming its Washington Dulles–Beijing service, which had been suspended since 2020. The combined capacity increase means approximately 3,500 additional seats per week on US-China routes, bringing weekly capacity closer to pre-pandemic levels. Industry analysts note that round-trip fares from major US cities to Beijing and Shanghai have dropped approximately 18% compared to the same period last year, making spring 2026 one of the most affordable windows for American travellers to visit China.