Not so long ago major U.S. airlines were scrambling for passes to fly to China. Now, some of those airlines that "luckily" obtained China routes from the U.S. Department of Transportation want to halt services.

Taking the lead are US Airways Group and Northeast Airlines. Both have received permission from the DOT to suspend some of their China-bound flights without losing their rights to operate to the region in the future, said a Bloomberg report.

Through-the-roof fuel costs are blamed for the step-back.

US Airways also plans to delay the launch of its Philadelphia-Beijing service to March 25, 2010. United Airlines said in May that it will delay the launch of service between San Francisco and Guangzhou to June 2009.

In my experience over the years, it's become a luxury to sit next to an empty seat in the main cabin on direct flights between the U.S. and China (same thing with domestic U.S. flights). Planes are getting fuller, airfares higher, and meals simpler. Now should we start to worry about securing a seat?