US carriers have long criticised the allowance of Chinese flights over Russia, arguing that the shorter routes reduce travel time and fuel consumption, providing an unfair advantage….reports Asian Lite News
The Trump administration has proposed barring Chinese airlines from flying over Russian airspace on routes to and from the United States, citing concerns that the practice gives Chinese carriers a competitive edge over American airlines. The move, announced Thursday by the US Department of Transportation (USDOT), comes amid growing economic and geopolitical tensions between the two countries.
US carriers have long criticised the allowance of Chinese flights over Russia, arguing that the shorter routes reduce travel time and fuel consumption, providing an unfair advantage. The USDOT’s proposed order states that “this imbalance has become a significant competitive factor,” and seeks to “level this competitive disparity among US and Chinese air carriers”, Reuters reported.
The proposed restriction would primarily affect airlines including Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines, and China Southern. Chinese authorities have yet to issue an immediate response, with the embassy in Washington remaining silent on the matter.
The dispute over airspace rights is rooted in reciprocal restrictions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Russia barred US airlines from overflying its territory after Washington prohibited Russian flights over the United States. While Chinese carriers have been allowed to use Russian airspace, US airlines argue that the difference in route efficiency affects their operational costs and viability of East Coast services to China.
USDOT has given Chinese airlines two days to respond to the proposed ban, with a final order potentially taking effect as early as November. The move follows similar measures in May 2023, when the United States approved additional flights by Chinese carriers after they agreed not to fly over Russia on newly approved routes.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, both the US and China had authorised over 150 weekly round-trip passenger flights. Last year, the US allowed Chinese airlines to operate up to 50 weekly round-trip flights, reflecting a gradual reopening of air travel between the two nations. US carriers have argued that direct East Coast routes to China are economically challenging without access to the more direct Russian airspace, highlighting the broader commercial implications of the proposed policy.
