FILE PHOTO. © Nicolas Economou / NurPhoto via Getty Images
The administration of US President Donald Trump has proposed banning Chinese airlines from flying over Russia on routes to and from America, according to a report by Reuters on Friday. The US Transportation Department cited concerns that Russian airspace provides Chinese carriers with an unfair competitive advantage.
Russia restricted access to its airspace for many Western airlines in 2022 following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict, forcing non-Russian carriers to reroute around Russian territory, which increased flight times and costs. In contrast, China has not faced similar restrictions.
The Transportation Department stated the situation is “unfair and has resulted in substantial adverse competitive effects on US air carriers.” It reportedly gave Chinese airlines two days to respond, with a final decision potentially announced as early as November. The proposal could impact flights operated by Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines, and China Southern, though it would apply only to passenger flights, not cargo operations.
Neither China’s aviation regulator nor its embassy in Washington commented on the report. Some US carriers have opposed the measure, warning that avoiding Russian airspace would make direct flights to China less viable due to higher costs and reduced cargo capacity.
Shares of China’s three largest airlines declined slightly after the report, with Air China and China Southern down 1.3%, and China Eastern 0.9% by midday Friday.
The move occurs amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over Trump’s trade policies. The president has threatened new tariffs on China’s ties with Moscow, accusing Beijing of “funding” the Ukraine conflict through energy imports. China rejected the claims as “unacceptable,” asserting its trade with Russia is “legitimate and lawful.”
Meanwhile, a Kremlin aide suggested US-Russia air travel could resume by late 2025, coinciding with ongoing Ukraine peace efforts mediated by the US. In August, the Russian ambassador to the US confirmed that restoring flights between the two countries was “underway.”
