By Sarah Sankel
Correspondent
The Trump administration recently proposed banning Chinese flights from Russian airspace when traveling to and from the United States. Chinese airline companies have protested vocally against such proposals, however, and have emphasized the costs and disruption of such flight paths.
The situation has escalated the ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China.
The proposition made by the Trump administration aims to stop Chinese airline companies from taking advantage of the increased international maneuverability of airspace. According to Yahoo News, the U.S. Department of Transportation said, “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 ban would only affect Chinese flights that are flying to and from the U.S.
American airlines, as well as airlines from many other countries, have been banned from Russian airspace since Russia invaded Ukraine in March 2022, according to Reuters. However, China’s close relationship with Russia has prevented such a ban, meaning that Chinese airlines are able to save money by taking shortcuts across Russia.
According to Reuters, a flight from Beijing to Los Angeles without using Russian airspace would take an average of 13 hours and 58 minutes. A flight with Russian airspace would only take 12 hours and 26 minutes.
China Eastern, a major Chinese airline, said that the ban would “harm the public interest” and "inconvenience travellers,” according to AP News, emphasizing that customers from both China and the U.S. would have to pay higher fares. Air China warned that at least 4,400 passengers would be affected if the ban were to take place during Thanksgiving and Christmas. In total, six major Chinese airlines filed complaints over the proposed ban, according to AP News.
Guo Jiakun, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson, said that the ban would be “punishing” passengers around the world. David Yu, an aviation industry expert, said, “The U.S - China route historically has been a money-maker for airlines on both sides. From the Chinese carriers’ perspective, if you can go through Russia, your costs go down,” according to AP News.
Some U.S. airlines have emphasized that flights from the East Coast of the U.S. to China are not economically feasible without flying through Russia. Sometimes, reduced cargo and empty seats are necessary to make the long-distance flight possible, according to Reuters.
According to The Japan Times, Airlines for America, which includes American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, approved the ban, but emphasized the importance of “ensuring that the level of passenger capacity stays reasonably tied to marketplace demand.”
As the Trump Administration continues to discuss the best form of action, the Department of Aviation has said that it will consider public comments before finalizing the plan, according to Yahoo News.
