Chinese airlines push back against Trump plan to ban Russia overflights on US routes

China’s biggest airlines have voiced strong opposition to a proposal by the Trump administration to bar them from flying over Russian airspace on US-bound routes — a move they warn would disrupt flights, raise fares, and hurt passengers on both sides of the Pacific.

The US Department of Transportation (USDOT) last week proposed new restrictions preventing Chinese carriers from using Russian airspace when flying to and from the United States, arguing that the shorter routes give them a “competitive advantage” over American airlines, which are banned from Russian skies.

In separate letters to US regulators, six major Chinese airlines — including China Eastern, Air China, and China Southern — urged Washington to drop the plan, saying it would “severely affect” connectivity between the two countries.

China Eastern warned the rule could lengthen some flights by up to three hours, increasing the risk of missed connections, higher fuel costs, and longer layovers. Air China and China Southern also said the proposed restriction could inconvenience thousands of travelers during the upcoming holiday season.

China Southern estimated that at least 2,800 passengers flying between November and December would have to be rebooked, “jeopardizing their travel plans.”

Meanwhile, United Airlines has asked the Trump administration to extend the ban to Hong Kong-based carriers such as Cathay Pacific, which continues to fly over Russia on US-bound routes. United argues that current restrictions have left it “effectively barred” from resuming direct flights to major Chinese cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

Russia closed its airspace to US and several Western airlines in 2022 after Washington imposed reciprocal bans on Russian carriers following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Chinese airlines, however, were not affected and have since gained a stronger foothold on long-haul routes between Asia and North America.

A spokesperson for China’s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that the US plan would “not be conducive to person-to-person exchanges,” urging Washington to avoid actions that would harm global travel.

Airlines for America, a trade group representing major US carriers including American Airlines, Delta, and United, welcomed the government’s proposal but also called for fair competition and capacity parity between US and Chinese airlines.

The latest dispute adds another layer to the already tense aviation and trade relations between Beijing and Washington — with both sides trying to balance politics, profit, and passenger convenience in the high skies.