Nonstop air travel between the United States and China is rebounding steadily in early 2025 after the drastic pandemic-induced reductions. At its pre-pandemic peak, there were over 300 direct flights per week between the two nations, but during the pandemic, that number plummeted. As bilateral restrictions ease, airlines are restoring and launching new nonstop routes. Although the current frequency remains below pre-pandemic levels, the upward trend is clear, and both U.S. and Chinese authorities are committed to expanding connectivity. Below is an updated overview of nonstop flights and detailed information on each airline’s service.

Contents

• What Airlines Fly US-China Nonstop?
• Best Airlines To Fly To China In 2025
• Options With Stopovers
• How To Find Award Flights To China (Step-by-step)
• Maximizing Your US–China Travel Experience

What Airlines Fly US-China Nonstop?

According to the latest information (FlightConnections, Google Flights), the following nonstop flights between the United States and China are currently operational:

Airline	Nonstop Routes (USA ⇄ China)
Air China	Los Angeles (LAX) – Beijing (PEK), Los Angeles (LAX) – Shenzhen (SZX), New York (JFK) – Beijing (PEK), San Francisco (SFO) – Beijing (PEK), Washington D.C. (IAD) – Beijing (PEK)
China Eastern	Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG), New York (JFK) – Shanghai (PVG), San Francisco (SFO) – Shanghai (PVG)
China Southern	Los Angeles (LAX) – Guangzhou (CAN), New York (JFK) – Guangzhou (CAN), San Francisco (SFO) – Guangzhou (CAN), San Francisco (SFO) – Wuhan (WUH)
Hainan Airlines	Seattle (SEA) – Beijing (PEK)
Chongqing Airlines	Seattle (SEA) – Chongqing (CKG)
Sichuan Airlines	Los Angeles (LAX) – Hangzhou (HGH), Los Angeles (LAX) – Chengdu Tianfu (TFU)
Xiamen Airlines	Los Angeles (LAX) – Xiamen (XMN), New York (JFK) – Fuzhou (FOC), New York (JFK) – Hangzhou (HGH)
American Airlines	Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Shanghai (PVG)
Delta Air Lines	Detroit (DTW) – Shanghai (PVG), Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG), Seattle (SEA) – Shanghai (PVG)
United Airlines	Chicago (ORD) – Beijing (PEK), Chicago (ORD) – Shanghai (PVG), Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG), Los Angeles (LAX) – Beijing (PEK), Newark (EWR) – Beijing (PEK), Newark (EWR) – Shanghai (PVG), San Francisco (SFO) – Shanghai (PVG), San Francisco (SFO) – Chengdu (CTU), San Francisco (SFO) – Beijing (PEK), Washington D.C. (IAD) – Beijing (PEK)

Routes are subject to schedule adjustments by airlines.

Best Airlines To Fly To China (2025)

1. American Airlines

American Airlines has taken a cautious approach to restoring China’s service. As of 2025, American’s sole nonstop route is from its Dallas/Fort Worth hub to Shanghai Pudong – a daily flight that leverages the carrier’s extensive DFW network. This route provides one-stop connectivity from dozens of U.S. cities via Dallas to Shanghai. American appears to prioritize demand for this trunk route before resuming additional flights.

• Nonstop route:
  • Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) – Shanghai (PVG)

How to book:

• American Airlines AAdvantage
• (Also available via oneworld partner programs)

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2. Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines has resumed its China service via two main gateways: Seattle and Detroit. Delta currently operates daily flights from Seattle to Shanghai using widebody aircraft and a daily Detroit–Shanghai service. With plans to eventually restore Los Angeles–Shanghai nonstops later in 2025, Delta is reinforcing its presence on the transpacific corridor.

• Nonstop routes:
  • Seattle (SEA) – Shanghai (PVG) (daily)
  • Detroit (DTW) – Shanghai (PVG) (daily)

How to book:

• Delta SkyMiles
• Use Delta’s calendar view to monitor award availability and set up alerts

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3. United Airlines

United Airlines has rebuilt the most robust U.S.–China network among U.S. carriers. In March 2025, United offers three daily nonstop routes: from San Francisco to Shanghai and Beijing, and from Los Angeles to Shanghai. United’s extensive network and Star Alliance partnerships make it a strong choice for award bookings.

• Nonstop routes:
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Shanghai (PVG)
  • San Francisco (SFO) – Beijing (PEK)
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Shanghai (PVG)

How to book:

• United MileagePlus
• Other Star Alliance programs (e.g., Air Canada Aeroplan, Avianca LifeMiles)

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4. Air China

Air China is actively restoring nonstop services from Beijing to major U.S. cities. As of 2025, Air China offers direct flights from Beijing Capital (PEK) to Los Angeles, New York (JFK), San Francisco (SFO), and Washington D.C. (IAD). Additionally, it operates a route from Shenzhen (SZX) to Los Angeles. These flights provide convenient options for travelers seeking direct access to China’s capital and southern hubs.

• Nonstop routes:
  • Beijing (PEK) – Los Angeles (LAX)
  • Beijing (PEK) – New York (JFK)
  • Beijing (PEK) – San Francisco (SFO)
  • Beijing (PEK) – Washington D.C. (IAD)
  • Shenzhen (SZX) – Los Angeles (LAX)

How to book:

• Use United MileagePlus, or Air Canada Aeroplan to book Air China flights

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5. China Eastern Airlines

China Eastern Airlines has reactivated nonstop flights connecting Shanghai Pudong (PVG) to the U.S. West and East Coasts. Its services include routes from Shanghai to Los Angeles, New York (JFK), and San Francisco. These flights are key to reconnecting Shanghai’s international gateway with major U.S. cities.

• Nonstop routes:
  • Shanghai (PVG) – Los Angeles (LAX)
  • Shanghai (PVG) – New York (JFK)
  • Shanghai (PVG) – San Francisco (SFO)

How to book:

• Book via China Eastern’s official website or through Delta SkyMiles and Air France/KLM Flying Blue (as China Eastern is a SkyTeam member)

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6. China Southern Airlines

China Southern Airlines, based in Guangzhou, operates nonstop flights connecting Guangzhou to Los Angeles and New York. Additionally, it offers a once-weekly route from Wuhan to San Francisco. Although its U.S. capacity is currently more limited, China Southern is an important option for travelers flying into Southern China.

• Nonstop routes:
  • Guangzhou (CAN) – Los Angeles (LAX)
  • Guangzhou (CAN) – New York (JFK)
  • Wuhan (WUH) – San Francisco (SFO)

How to book:

• American Airlines AAdvantage is a preferred option due to their partnership with China Southern

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7. Hainan Airlines

Hainan Airlines has re-emerged as a significant player in U.S.–China travel, focusing on nonstop routes from Beijing to various U.S. cities. Notably, Hainan operates flights from Beijing to cities such as Boston, Chicago, San Jose, and Seattle. These services target secondary markets and cater to specific travel demands, such as education, technology, and business.

• Nonstop routes:
  • Beijing (PEK) – Boston (BOS)
  • Beijing (PEK) – Chicago (ORD)
  • Beijing (PEK) – San Jose (SJC)
  • Beijing (PEK) – Seattle (SEA)

How to book:

• Check for availability via Alaska Mileage Plan, or use Hainan Airlines’ Fortune Wings Club program.
• Be prepared to call the reservation center for award bookings, as Hainan isn’t part of a major global alliance

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8. Xiamen Airlines

Xiamen Airlines connects the U.S. to China’s Fujian province and eastern regions with unique nonstop services. It offers direct flights from Los Angeles to Xiamen, and from New York (JFK) to Fuzhou. These routes serve niche markets, particularly for passengers with familial or business ties in Fujian.

• Nonstop routes:
  • Los Angeles (LAX) – Xiamen (XMN)
  • New York (JFK) – Fuzhou (FOC)
  • (Additionally, Xiamen Airlines offers a New York (JFK) – Hangzhou (HGH) flight)

How to book:

• Use SkyTeam programs such as Air France/KLM Flying Blue or Delta SkyMiles to book
• Alternatively, check Xiamen Airlines’ own Egret Miles program if you have access to it

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Options With Stopovers

While nonstop options are ideal, the situation still seems constrained, with very few seats available at expensive redemption rates (e.g., some premium cabins can cost more than 400k miles one-way!).

Another option is to do just one stopover outside the United States, which can open the door to much better cabins and connections. Adding a stopover will add travel time, but if picked correctly, it can help you get cheaper awards and service onboard.

There are options through Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and even Africa. However, remember to check transit restrictions in place when it comes to visas and health regulations.

Here are some of the options we see with reasonable-to-great availability and good pricing.

Japan Airlines

JAL is renowned for its punctuality, exceptional customer service, and high-quality in-flight experience, offering comfortable seating and a wide array of entertainment options. You can expect meticulous attention to detail and an incredibly pleasant journey no matter the cabin class.

As a member of Oneworld, it provides more options when it comes to award flights and redemptions across programs. It also reaches cities or destinations that are not mainstream.

JAL operates many daily flights to/from Tokyo’s Narita (NRT) or Haneda (HND) airports.

How to book: Alaska Mileage Plan, AAdvantage.

All Nippon Airways (ANA)

ANA flies daily from Haneda (HND) and Narita (NRT) to Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, New York, and Houston. It’s also easy to connect to Beijing, Shanghai, and other destinations in Mainland China.

How to book: United Mileage Plan, Aeroplan

Cathay Pacific

The airline primarily routes its US to China flights via Hong Kong, a major global aviation hub. There are options from New York (JFK), Los Angeles (LAX), or San Francisco (SFO) to various destinations in China, connecting through Hong Kong (HKG).

While Cathay Pacific offers a streamlined connection via Hong Kong, the geopolitical tensions between Hong Kong and Mainland China could affect flight schedules or operations. Travelers should be aware of any evolving circumstances and check for any related travel advisories or changes in flight patterns.

These award flights are hard to snatch, as inventory is very limited, but it can be pretty rewarding! There are seats for 30k miles one-way using Mileage Plan or AAdvantage miles!

How to book: Alaska Mileage Plan.

EVA Air

EVA Air offers great options and service via Taiwan, from New York, Chicago, Houston, Washington, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Seattle to both Beijing and Shanghai.

The airline is also pretty generous with availability across multiple programs. Plus, we love their service. Check our reviews here.

How to book: United Mileage Plan, Aeroplan.

Asiana

Asiana offers daily flights to Seoul (ICN) on some great airplanes and cabins (e.g., LAX-PEK and SEA-PVG). They also have plenty of connections to Mainland China, including Beijing, Shanghai, and others.

One interesting route is the connection between Honolulu (HNL) and Seoul Incheon (ICN), which can help connect travelers from Hawaii to China a smooth connection.

How to book: United Mileage Plan, Aeroplan.

Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines is known for its expansive in-flight meal offerings, generous legroom, and top-notch service standards. Also, their A350 cabin is just amazing.

A popular route is Seattle (SEA) to Istanbul (IST) which can then connect to Beijing, Shanghai, and other cities in Mainland China. Award availability is good across various Star Alliance programs, and can present to travelers a good alternative even for credit card point transfers.

It’s clear that the geographic position of Istanbul means that the total flight path is much longer than other more direct routes or connections through East Asian hubs. However, Turkish has a flexible policy for long layovers, letting you stay overnight at a hotel for free or even stay in Istanbul for up to 72 hours to explore Turkey.

Price-wise, it’s also not bad, there are good options at just 54k EuroBonus points one-way in Economy, or similar in other programs.

How to book: United MileagePlus, Aeroplan, Miles & Smiles

Lufthansa and SWISS

Lufthansa and SWISS have high service standards, decent seating, and quality in-flight amenities. They are also refreshing their cabins soon. Travelers can expect a consistent experience (check our reviews here). Their hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, and Zurich are also well-equipped to handle international transfers, often making smooth connections.

However, a layover in Europe leads to longer total travel time compared to other flights from the US to China. Depending on the flight schedules, layovers can be exhausting or inconvenient, especially if they require overnight stays. Lastly, keep in mind that transiting through European hubs may expose travelers to additional entry or transit restrictions.

How to book: United MileagePlus, Aeroplan, Turkish Miles&Smiles

Ethiopian Airways

A significant benefit of flying with Ethiopian Airways is often the competitive pricing. As the airline tries to win over others, even on points, they offer a super cost-effective option for long-haul travel (e.g., 90k points round trip). Additionally, Ethiopian Airlines has built a solid reputation for its hospitality and service quality. The Addis Ababa hub, which serves as the airline’s main transit point, has increasingly become a strategic and efficient gateway for connecting flights between the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

On the downside, the flight path from the US to China via Ethiopia might be lengthier than direct routes or other more northerly connecting routes, leading, as expected, to longer travel times. Frequency is also less, which reduces flexibility. Additionally, the Addis Ababa airport, while modern, can sometimes face capacity constraints during peak times. Lastly, transit regulations or health screenings in Ethiopia pose additional considerations for some travelers.

Air France/KLM

Fly from the United States to Beijing (PEK) and Shanghai (PVG) via Amsterdam (AMS) or Paris (CDG).

How to book: FlyingBlue, SkyMiles, SAS EuroBonus

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How To Find Award Flights To China (Step-by-step)

1. Go to AwardFares

Creating an account is optional, but it’s also free, and it gives you access to more features. Make sure to sign up for one here.

2. Select your favorite Frequent Flyer Program

Tap on the Loyalty Program field and select one or more frequent flyer programs. You can choose among Air Canada Aeroplan, American AAdvantage, Alaska Mileage Plan, United MileagePlus, SAS EuroBonus, and Avianca Lifemiles.

3. Add a Route

In the Origin and Destination fields, add one or more airports to search for flights between those locations. AwardFares will search for award flights regardless of the number of stops. You can use the Stops filter to only search for direct/non-stop flights.

In the example below, we search for flights between New York City and Beijing. We use the metropolitan area code NYC to get results from any airport in New York (JFK, EWR, LGA) at once!

4. Explore Dates

If you have a particular date in mind, add it by tapping on the Calendar field.

Alternatively, you can use AwardFares Timeline View to explore the seat availability on different dates. The Timeline View displays how many seats are available for each day of the week/month. The bars are color-coded, so it’s easy to distinguish between cabin classes (Economy, Business, First). You can also trigger new searches by tapping the refresh icon underneath each day.

In addition, you can also tap anywhere on the flight to display more details in an expanded view, such as aircraft type, and even get the current seat maps to see which seats are free versus occupied!

5. Filter by Stops or Airline

In the filters below, you can add the desired number of stops (optional). You can display nonstop results only or with up to one stop.

In addition, the Airline lets you filter results by carrier if you are searching for a specific airline (e.g., Air China, JAL, etc.)

6. Sort by Price

Whether you are exploring dates using the Timeline View or have selected a specific day, AwardFares will show you the available seats (with real-time data) within seconds in the result list below.

You can tap on the different header columns to sort the results by price. Use the Eco, Prem, Biz, and First class tags to find cheap awards across multiple dates, itineraries, and airlines.

7. Book with the Airline

Once you have identified the flights you want (or built an itinerary using our Journey Planner), go to the airline or loyalty program’s website and make the booking.

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Pro Tips

1. Set Up Alerts:
   Award space on U.S.–China nonstop routes can be scarce. Set up alerts for your desired routes (for example, LAX–PVG in business class) so you receive notifications as soon as seats become available. Check out our full guide (with a video tutorial) on how to leverage alerts here. It’s possible to add a filter just to display nonstop flights.

2. Compare Options:
   Review the available options, comparing mileage requirements and booking conditions. Sometimes booking two segments separately (e.g., a U.S. domestic leg plus a transpacific leg) can unlock more award availability.

3. Book Quickly:
   Once an award seat is available, act fast. Log in to the airline’s website or your frequent flyer account and complete the booking. If the online system is uncooperative, consider calling the airline’s reservations center.

Maximizing Your US–China Travel Experience

The resurgence of nonstop flights means quicker and more convenient trips between the United States and China. By leveraging award search tools like AwardFares and using flexible, strategic award booking, you can make your travel virtually free with miles. Stay tuned for further updates as airlines continue to expand their services and adjust routes based on growing demand.

For more tips on booking award flights and maximizing your travel, check out our related guides:

• How To Find Cheap Award Flights (Step-by-step)
• Award Charts Explained: Zones, Dynamic Pricing, and How to Maximize Miles
• Ultimate Guide to Award Release Dates