- The US government is considering banning Chinese airlines from using Russian airspace for flights to and from the United States.
- This proposed action is intended to eliminate a competitive advantage held by Chinese carriers over US airlines, which face sanctions banning them from Russian airspace.
- US airlines incur increased flight times and fuel costs due to the necessity of rerouting to avoid Russian airspace.
- Major Chinese carriers like Air China and China Southern could be affected, and a final decision may be implemented next month.
The US government is considering a proposal to ban Chinese airlines from operating flights to and from the United States if those flights utilize Russian airspace. This potential ban is being proposed by the Transportation Department (DOT) to address what the Trump Administration views as an unfair competitive advantage held by Chinese carriers over their US rivals.
Following sanctions, US and many European airlines are prohibited from entering Russian airspace. This restriction increases their flight times and fuel expenses on routes between the US and China. The DOT stated that this imbalance has become a significant competitive factor in the aviation market. To address this disparity and “level the competitive playing field” between US and Chinese air carriers, the DOT is proposing the ban on Chinese flights that overfly Russia.
The proposed ban could potentially impact flights to the US East Coast and Midwest operated by several major Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, and China Southern. The DOT has established a two-day period for Chinese airlines to formally respond to the order, with a final decision potentially taking effect in the following month. US airlines have consistently voiced concerns about the cost and time advantages held by Chinese and other international airlines that are not subject to the same restrictions regarding Russian airspace.
