Trump administration proposes ban on Chinese airlines flying over Russia on US routes

The Trump administration, on October 9, proposed prohibiting Chinese airlines from using Russian airspace on routes to and from the United States, arguing that the reduced flight times this practice allows give Chinese carriers an unfair competitive advantage over their American counterparts.

The move marks a further escalation in trade tensions between Washington and Beijing and came shortly after China announced new export restrictions on rare earth elements vital to several U.S. industries.

U.S. airlines have long criticised the current arrangement, which allows Chinese carriers to fly over Russia on U.S.-bound routes. This significantly shortens flight times, reduces fuel consumption, and lowers operational costs — benefits that American Airlines cannot enjoy, since Russia banned them and many other Western carriers from using its airspace in response to Washington’s decision to close U.S. skies to Russian flights in March 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine.

Chinese airlines, which were not included in those restrictions, have continued using Russian airspace, enabling them to gain market share on long-haul international routes.

In its proposed order, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) described the current situation as “unfair” and said it had “resulted in substantial adverse competitive effects on U.S. air carriers.” The order would apply the same overflight restrictions to Chinese carriers’ U.S. routes that American Airlines currently faces. However, it would not apply to cargo-only flights.

The proposal could affect passenger flights operated by several major Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, and Xiamen Airlines. The order did not specifically name Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific, which continues to fly over Russia on its New York–Hong Kong route, according to flight tracking data from Flightradar24. 

Shares of China’s three largest state-owned airlines fell modestly in Friday trading following the announcement. Air China declined 1.3%, China Southern dropped 1.8%, and China Eastern slipped 0.3% by midday. The carriers have struggled financially since the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting five consecutive years of annual losses.

The proposal comes amid rising economic tensions between the two countries. It also coincides with ongoing discussions between Boeing and Chinese officials over a potential deal for up to 500 aircraft—a development that could represent a major breakthrough for the U.S. manufacturer in China’s aviation market, where orders have largely stalled due to trade friction.

U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to hold a face-to-face meeting in South Korea at the end of October, where trade and aviation issues are likely to be among the key topics.

The Transportation Department has given Chinese airlines two days to respond to the proposal, noting that a final order could take effect as early as November.

In May 2023, the U.S. approved additional flights by Chinese carriers after they agreed not to use Russian airspace for new routes. Last year, the DOT allowed Chinese passenger airlines to increase weekly round-trip flights to 50 but decided against further expansion amid objections from U.S. airlines and labour unions.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, each side permitted more than 150 weekly round-trip passenger flights. Some U.S. carriers have since told the Trump administration that nonstop flights from the U.S. East Coast to China are no longer economically viable without access to Russian airspace. Longer routes, they said, require leaving some seats empty and reducing cargo loads to compensate for additional fuel requirements.

By Tamilla Hasanova