Chinese airlines fume as US proposes to bar flights if they fly over Russia

China’s largest state-owned air carriers are strongly protesting a US proposal that would prohibit them from flying over the Russian airspace for flights travelling to or from the United States.

The US government argued that the practice grants Chinese airlines an unfair competitive advantage over American and most European carriers, which have been banned from Russian airspace since 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine.

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed the order last week, citing “competitive imbalances” caused by Chinese airlines’ ability to use the most efficient, shorter route over Russia.

Moscow closed its airspace to US and most European air carriers in response to Western sanctions.

Aviation industry experts have noted that the inability of US carriers to fly over Russia has lengthened some US-China routes by two to three hours. These longer journeys require more fuel and reduce profitability for American airlines, creating a distinct cost advantage for their Chinese counterparts.

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‘Sky-high’ costs

Six major Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern, have filed formal complaints against the proposed ban.

China Eastern stated in its filing to the US DOT that the ban would “harm the public interest” and “inconvenience travellers” from both countries, warning that the longer flight times would result in higher operating costs and elevated air fares, increasing the burden on all passengers.

China Southern cautioned that a ban on Russian airspace would adversely affect thousands of travelers, while Air China estimated that the ban could impact at least 4,400 passengers during the peak Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season.

In response to the US proposal, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, also slammed the move, calling it “punishing” for passengers worldwide.

The US DOT is expected to consider all public comments before making a final decision on the proposed plan. European airlines, including Air France-KLM, have also previously voiced complaints about the competitive disparity.

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Separately, United Airlines has urged the DOT to expand the ban to include Hong Kong’s flagship carrier, Cathay Pacific, which was not included in the initial list of Chinese airlines.