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The civil aviation corridor between the US and China had been rocked with significant events starting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, both US and China aviation authorities have been working to restore the corridor and expand flight routes with increased connectivity. The growing demand for travel between USA and China is a testament to their collective efforts.
Check out the 10 best airlines to fly to China from USA in 2025 and 2026. The list is curated considering a number of factors, like budget, nonstop travel, one-stop transit, layover tours, transit visa, onboard seating, inflight facilities, etc.
EVA Air
On the list of top US to China airlines, EVA Air is one of the 10 safest full-service carriers, according to 2025 AirlineRatings. As part of Star Alliance, EVA Air flights from US to China are operated from major American gateways like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Houston, Chicago, and New York via its hub airport in Taiwan.
For a comfortable long-haul journey, EVA Air provides a range of cabin experiences. Their top-tier Royal Laurel Class (Business Class) features lie-flat seats, exquisite dining with a selection of exclusive wines, and branded amenity kits, along with access to VIP lounges. EVA Air’s Premium Economy Class is an award-winning product, which offers industry-best seats with 42-inch pitch, a “cradle motion” recline mechanism, and enhanced entertainment systems.
Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines’ nonstop US to China service comprises flights to Shanghai from Los Angeles, Seattle, and Detroit, Michigan. Delta and China Eastern have partnered to enhance travel options, operating nine routes between China and USA. Delta covers over 250 US domestic destinations, and China Eastern offers flights to 145 destinations across China and Hong Kong, flying customers out to a larger network with better flexibility and more choices.
Delta Air Lines offers complimentary Starbucks service onboard and Chinese meals that can be pre-reserved 24 hours in advance. For enhanced in-flight experience, Delta One® offers Westin Heavenly® In-Flight Bedding and TUMI amenity kits with Kiehl’s Since 1851® Deluxe skin care products, along with loungewear.
United Airlines
United Airlines’ US-China network for 2025-2026 includes daily nonstop flights from Chicago and Newark to both Beijing and Shanghai, in addition to Newark-Hong Kong and San Francisco-Chengdu. United Airlines flights from the US to China are especially appealing to business class travelers. United offers the luxurious United Polaris® Business Class, featuring lie-flat seats, bespoke dining, premium bedding, and exclusive Polaris Lounge access.
United also prioritizes family travel with Family Seating assistance, ensuring children under 12 can sit next to an accompanying adult at no extra charge. United Airlines’ interline and codeshare partnership with Air China enhances connectivity for United passengers to their final destinations from the primary gateway cities in China.
American Airlines
Among the best airlines to fly to China from USA, American Airlines’ Dallas to China flights are in demand throughout the year. Check out iEagle.com for budget flight tickets to Shanghai and Beijing from the US. Though American Airlines directly flies to Shanghai, its strategic relationship and codeshare partnership with China Southern Airlines provides seamless access to a broad network beyond Shanghai in China.
American offers its premium Flagship® Business experience. This includes lie-flat seats, a comprehensive free entertainment selection, and access to exclusive Flagship® Lounges, ensuring an elevated pre-flight and in-flight journey. Recognizing the importance of cultural comfort, American also staffs its transpacific routes with Chinese-speaking flight attendants.
Furthermore, to streamline the departure experience, eligible AAdvantage members can utilize American Airlines’ TSA PreCheck Touchless ID lanes. This innovative service offers expedited, contactless security screening at participating US airports, leveraging facial recognition technology for efficiency.
Cathay Pacific
Cathay Pacific flights from US to Hong Kong further connect to mainland China, including major cities like Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG), Chengdu (TFU), Chongqing (CKG), and Guangzhou (CAN), owing to its extensive intra-Asia network as a founding member of the Oneworld Alliance. Cathay Pacific offers premium cabin options, notably the new “Aria Suite” on select Boeing 777-300ERs for greater personal space, comfortable seating, and an upgraded dining experience with selections like prosecco and dishes from renowned restaurant partners.
In 2025, the Skytrax World Airline Awards ranked Cathay Pacific among top three airlines globally, and also adjudged it as “World’s Best Economy Class Airline” for the second consecutive year. Cathay Pacific bagged the “World’s Best Inflight Entertainment” award for its state-of-the-art inflight entertainment system, which includes 4K content and a wide array of movies, TV shows, and music, frequently updated with new titles including Disney+ Originals.
Air China
Air China is one of the best airlines for nonstop flights from USA to China. The People’s Republic of China operates daily flights to Beijing and Shanghai from major US cities – Washington D.C., New York, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.
On Air China flights, travelers experience a genuine taste of Chinese hospitality and culture from the moment they step onboard. For families, Air China supports family check-in for adults traveling with 1-2 children on the same booking and offers pre-select special meals for children and infants. Premium passengers enjoy special services, like complimentary chauffeured car transfers in select Chinese cities (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou) and personal escort services at Beijing Capital Airport (T3).
China Eastern
Among the top 10 airlines operating between US and China, China Eastern Airlines has nonstop flights to Shanghai Pudong from Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. As one of China’s largest carriers, China Eastern also provides onward connections from Shanghai to over 145 destinations across mainland China and Hong Kong. Furthermore, its partnership with Delta Air Lines enables passengers from China to travel beyond New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
On China Eastern Airlines flights, Business Class passengers can expect larger, often reverse herringbone lie-flat seats with in-built massage features, individual interactive entertainment systems, and laptop power points. China Eastern also provides special meals for dietary requirements (pre-orderable) and offers assistance for family travelers with infants or young children, and passengers with disabilities.
China Southern
You can book China Southern’s nonstop US-China flights to Guangzhou (CAN) from Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco. The airline deploys mostly moder Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus A330s for these long-haul routes.
For families, China Southern allows children aged two and above to occupy seats at a corresponding child fare, and outlines policies for the carriage of infants and unaccompanied minors (from 5 to under 12 years old, with prior arrangement). This Chinese Airline has codeshare agreements with other international carriers like American Airlines and Qatar Airways offering integrated travel with reciprocal mileage earning and redemption opportunities.
