Trump Administration Moves to Ban Chinese Airlines from Flying Over Russia
The Trump administration has proposed restricting Chinese airlines from flying through Russian airspace on routes to and from the United States, arguing that the practice gives them an unfair competitive edge over American carriers.
The Gaze reports this, referring to Reuters.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DoT) has drafted an order that would prohibit Chinese passenger airlines from using Russia’s airspace on transpacific routes, according to people familiar with the proposal. The move could affect flights operated by Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines, and China Southern.
American airlines have long complained that Chinese competitors can save time and fuel by flying over Russia, while U.S. carriers must avoid Russian territory following Moscow’s 2022 ban on Western overflights.
The proposed restrictions come weeks before President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping are expected to meet in South Korea for direct talks.
In a draft seen by Reuters, the DoT described the current situation as “unfair and significantly detrimental to the competitiveness of U.S. airlines.” The measures would apply to all foreign passenger carriers operating under U.S. permits but would exclude cargo-only services.
Chinese carriers have been given two days to respond to the proposal, with the final decision expected as early as November.
U.S. airlines say that avoiding Russian airspace adds hours to their routes to China, raising fuel and labor costs and reducing both passenger and cargo volumes. The issue has already constrained the recovery of transpacific travel since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Trump administration’s proposal follows a 2023 agreement that allowed additional flights by Chinese airlines on the condition they avoided Russian airspace – a commitment that U.S. officials now claim has not been fully upheld.
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