Chinese airlines face proposed ban over ‘unfair’ Russian airspace advantage

The Trump administration on Thursday proposed banning Chinese airlines from flying through Russian airspace on routes to and from the United States, arguing that the shorter flight times this would allow gives them an “unfair” advantage over American carriers.

The proposed measure, revealed by the US Department of Transportation, would effectively deprive Chinese airlines of a route advantage that reduces flight time and fuel costs — benefits not available to US carriers since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported.

The newspaper added that when the war began, Washington prevented Russian aircraft from flying over the United States, which prompted the Kremlin to impose mutual restrictions.

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While US airlines have since been forced to take longer, more expensive routes around Russia, Chinese carriers have continued to use the shortcut, allowing them to offer faster and cheaper flights on major routes, according to Reuters. Some US airlines have reportedly warned that without access to Russian airspace, direct flights between the US East Coast and China are barely profitable and often require limiting the number of passengers or cargo to save fuel.

In its proposed order Thursday, the Department of Transportation called the situation “unfair” and said it caused “significant adverse competitive impacts to U.S. air carriers.” The proposal, which would amend foreign air transport permits, would not apply to cargo flights only.

Reuters reported that a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman criticized the plan on Friday, warning that flight restrictions would harm travel and communications between the two countries. The decision may affect flights operated by Air China, China Eastern, China Southern and Xiamen Airlines.

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A Department of Transportation banner is displayed outside the Orville Wright Federal Building in June 2025 in Washington, D.C (Kevin Carter/Getty Images/Getty Images)

The Ministry of Transport gave Chinese airlines two days to respond and said the final order could take effect as soon as November.

The proposal comes as tensions rise between Washington and Beijing across multiple economic fronts. Thursday’s move follows Beijing’s decision earlier the same day to tighten export controls on rare earth materials important to many US industries.

Boeing is reportedly in talks to sell up to 500 planes to China this summer, but the deal has largely stalled amid ongoing trade frictions. (Reuters/Randall Hill/Reuters Images)

In a separate development, Boeing is reportedly in talks to sell up to 500 planes to China, representing a potential breakthrough in the world’s second-largest aviation market, where orders have largely ground to a halt amid ongoing trade frictions.

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China’s Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment from FOX Business.

Reuters contributed to this report.