American Airlines revises website to change Taiwan reference

[WASHINGTON] American Airlines Group Inc late on Tuesday confirmed it had changed how its website refers to Taiwan, a move expected to be followed by two other major US carriers by Wednesday in an effort to avoid Chinese penalties.

Reuters reported earlier on Tuesday that the three major carriers were set to change how their websites refer to Taiwanese airports.

A check of American's website late on Tuesday showed it now only lists Taipei's airport code and city, but not the name Taiwan. Beijing has demanded that foreign firms, and airlines in particular, not refer to Taiwan as non-Chinese territory on their websites, a move described by the White House in May as "Orwellian nonsense."

China set a final deadline of July 25 for the changes, and last month rejected US requests for talks on the matter, adding to tension in relations already frayed by an escalating trade conflict.

REUTERS