By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Transportation Department announced Friday that it will suspend 44 China-bound flight from the United States by 4 Chinese airlines in response to China’s decision suspending some U.S. carrier flights due to COVID-19 issues.

After some COVID-19-positive passengers were found, Chinese authorities had suspended flights by 20 United Airlines and 10 American Airlines (NASDAQ :), as well as 14 Delta Air Lines. According to the Transportation Department, U.S. airlines were cancelled by China as of Tuesday.

The suspensions will begin on Jan. 30 with Xiamen Airlines’ scheduled Los Angeles-to-Xiamen flight and run through March 29.

This decision will result in the cancellation of certain flights operated by Xiamen Air China (OTC), China Southern Airlines (NYSE) and China Eastern Airlines. Washington: China Embassy declined to comment immediately.

The department said France and Germany have taken similar action against China’s COVID-19 actions.

According to the Transportation Department, China’s decision to suspend 44 flights was “adversely affected by the public interest” and required proportionate action. China’s “unilateral” actions against U.S. carriers was also criticized.

China also suspended U.S. airlines from Chinese carriers following positive passenger tests.

According to the department, if China changes its policies to improve the situation of U.S. airlines, then the Department will be fully ready to reexamine the decision. However, it warned that China could cancel more flights and the Department reserves the right not to take any further actions.

China almost closed its borders to international travelers. The Civil Aviation Administration of China reported in September that the number of flights was 200 per week. That’s 2% less than pre-pandemic levels.

Since December, the number of U.S. planes being grounded has risen as infections from the Omicron virus of coronavirus have reached record levels in America.

Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Washington and Beijing have been at odds over the provision of air services. After Beijing had imposed similar limits on four United Airlines flights, four U.S. Transportation Department flights were restricted to 40 percent passenger capacity by August.

Three U.S. and four Chinese airlines operated about 20 flights per week between these countries before recent cancellations. This is a far cry from the more than 100 flights that were conducted prior to the pandemic.