China’s largest state-owned airlines are mounting a fierce protest against a U.S. government proposal that would bar them from flying over Russian airspace on routes to and from the United States, a move that has triggered a flurry of formal complaints and diplomatic rebukes on both sides of the Pacific. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) unveiled the plan last week, citing what it describes as “competitive imbalances” in the trans-Pacific aviation market. Since 2022, American and most European airlines have been prohibited from entering Russian airspace, a restriction imposed by Moscow in retaliation for Western sanctions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In contrast, Chinese carriers have continued to use the shorter, more efficient routes over Russia, giving them a cost and time advantage over their U.S. and European competitors.
According to ABC and multiple wire services, six Chinese airlines, including the country’s “Big Three”—Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern—have filed official complaints to the U.S. Department of Transportation. In a statement submitted this week, China Eastern warned that the proposed ban “would harm the public interest” and “inconvenience travelers” from both China and the United States. The airline argued that the additional flight time required to avoid Russian airspace would lead to higher operating costs and elevated airfares, increasing the burden on all passengers.
China Southern echoed these concerns, cautioning that a ban on Russian airspace would adversely affect thousands of travelers. Air China estimated that at least 4,400 passengers could face delays or rebooking if the ban takes effect during the busy Thanksgiving and Christmas travel seasons. “This change would hurt travelers on both sides,” the airlines said collectively, emphasizing that longer flights would require more fuel, add hours to travel time, and inevitably raise prices—a scenario that few passengers would welcome, especially during peak holiday periods.
The Chinese government has also weighed in. Guo Jiakun, spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, sharply criticized the U.S. proposal, calling it “punishing” for passengers worldwide. “The move would punish passengers around the world,” Guo stated, as reported by AP News and Business Standard, arguing that the ban would do little to foster people-to-people ties between China and the United States and would instead inject further tension into already strained bilateral relations.
From the perspective of U.S. officials and airlines, however, the issue is one of fairness and market parity. The U.S. Department of Transportation said in its proposed order that Chinese carriers’ ability to cross Russian airspace has caused “competitive imbalances” between American and Chinese airlines. “Being able to use the most efficient route provides a competitive advantage because it usually results in the shortest flight time duration, thereby offering a more appealing option to travelers,” the department explained. Airlines for America, the trade group representing major U.S. carriers such as Delta, United, and American Airlines, has voiced strong support for the DOT’s proposal. The group insists that the number of flights between the two countries should reflect real demand and that all carriers should operate on a level playing field.
Industry experts have pointed out the practical effects of the current situation. David Yu, an aviation industry expert at New York University Shanghai, told CNA and other outlets that U.S. carriers’ inability to fly over Russia has lengthened some U.S.-China routes by two to three hours. “If U.S. airlines can’t fly over Russia but Chinese airlines can, the Chinese side saves money and time. That’s why U.S. carriers feel at a disadvantage,” Yu explained. Longer journeys mean greater fuel consumption and higher operating costs, which in turn squeeze profitability for American airlines. Historically, the U.S.-China route has been a lucrative one for airlines on both sides, but the current restrictions have upended that balance.
Despite their current routing advantage, Chinese airlines are not immune to financial pressures. According to several reports, including those from Business Standard and IBTimes, Chinese carriers are still recovering from the substantial losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. The airlines argue that the proposed U.S. ban would only deepen their woes by forcing them to adopt longer, more expensive routes—costs that would inevitably be passed on to consumers.
The debate has also drawn in voices from beyond China and the United States. European airlines, such as Air France-KLM, have long complained about the competitive disparity created by Russia’s selective airspace closures. Like their American counterparts, European carriers have been forced to take longer, less direct routes to Asia since 2022. United Airlines, one of the largest U.S. carriers, has gone a step further in its own filing to the DOT, urging that the proposed ban be extended to include Hong Kong’s flagship airline, Cathay Pacific, which was not initially covered by the order. United’s argument is that any carrier able to use Russian airspace enjoys the same unfair advantage, regardless of its home base.
The U.S. Department of Transportation, for its part, has said it will consider all public comments before making a final decision on the proposed plan. The department’s willingness to solicit feedback underscores the high stakes involved: the outcome will affect not only the airlines themselves but also the millions of passengers who rely on trans-Pacific flights each year. For now, travelers and industry insiders alike are left in a state of uncertainty, awaiting a ruling that could reshape the dynamics of international aviation for years to come.
While both sides make compelling arguments, the proposed ban highlights the broader geopolitical rifts that have come to define U.S.-China relations in recent years. What began as a dispute over airspace access has quickly escalated into a proxy battle over economic influence, regulatory power, and, ultimately, the right to chart the shortest path between East and West. As the holiday travel season approaches, the clock is ticking for regulators to find a solution that balances commercial interests, passenger convenience, and international diplomacy.
In the end, the skies over Russia are more than just a matter of flight paths—they are a flashpoint in a much larger contest over the rules of global engagement. Whether the U.S. Department of Transportation’s proposed ban will take effect, and how airlines and governments will respond, remains to be seen. For now, one thing is clear: the world is watching, and the outcome will have ripple effects far beyond the runways of Beijing, New York, and beyond.