Trump Plans to Ban Chinese Airlines from Flying Over Russia to the US Due to Economic and Geopolitical Reasons
According to Reuters, the administration of former US President Donald Trump has developed a new proposal to ban Chinese airlines from routing flights through Russian airspace on routes to and from the United States.
The initiative is motivated by the fact that using Russian airspace significantly shortens flight times while reducing fuel and maintenance costs, giving Chinese carriers a competitive advantage.
Meanwhile, American airlines have long criticized the use of such detours, citing negative impacts on their competitiveness.
Moscow responded by banning US and other foreign airlines from using Russian skies, a retaliatory measure linked to Washington’s decision in March 2022 to prohibit Russian flights over US airspace following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Chinese airlines are not subject to this ban and are leveraging this advantage to gain market share compared to other international airlines.
The US Department of Transportation has stated that the current situation is ‘unfair’ and has adversely affected the competitiveness of American carriers.
The proposed restrictions, however, will not apply to cargo flights.
This decision could impact flights operated by major Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines, and China Southern.
The department has given Chinese carriers two days to respond, warning that the final decision could be implemented as early as November.
These measures are part of wider economic and geopolitical tensions between the US and China, intensified after the US allowed additional China-based flights in May 2023 on the condition that they would not fly over Russia.
Previously, it was reported that Chinese airlines could increase weekly flights to the US up to 50 but decided against expanding further following pressure from American unions and competitors.
Some US airlines have expressed concern that direct routes from the East Coast to China are no longer economically viable without utilizing Russian airspace.
Amid escalating tensions over economic control and resource management, this proposal reflects the ongoing strategic rivalry between Washington and Beijing, especially as both leaders prepare for key meetings scheduled for late October in South Korea.