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United Airlines requests temporary waiver extension for U.S-China slots
February 19th 2026
United Airlines has asked the U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) to extend the temporary waiver to retain 42 of the 66 frequencies it holds for flights between the U.S. and Mainland China that it does not intend to use from April to October this year. Read More » Currently, the Star Alliance member operates 24 return services a week between China and the U.S. - daily flights from San Francisco to Beijing Capital and Shanghai Pudong, daily flights from Los Angeles to Pudong and three flights a week from Los Angeles to Beijing. United said demand for air travel between China and the U.S. had not recovered to pre-pandemic levels. "United submits current circumstances continue to warrant an extension of the waiver," the airline said in its submission. "While a portion of U.S.-China frequencies held by U.S. airlines, including United, have recommenced, additional frequencies will remain suspended for multiple valid reasons, which underscores the need for an extension of the waiver." The DoT has extended the waiver several times since 2020.
