Washington: In a move that could further escalate tensions between Washington and Beijing, the Trump administration has proposed new restrictions preventing Chinese airlines from flying through Russian airspace on routes to and from the United States. The decision, announced by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), is part of an effort to “level the playing field” between American and Chinese carriers, which currently operate under vastly different geopolitical conditions.
According to the draft order, Chinese airlines such as Air China, China Eastern, China Southern, and Xiamen Airlines have continued to use Russian airspace to shorten travel times and reduce operational costs on U.S.–China routes. In contrast, American carriers have been banned from overflying Russia since 2022, when Washington imposed sanctions following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. government argues that this discrepancy gives Chinese airlines an unfair competitive edge, allowing them to operate faster, cheaper, and more fuel-efficient flights.
Officials within the Department of Transportation said the proposal aims to ensure “fair and equitable competition” in international air travel. “While U.S. airlines are forced to take longer routes due to Russian restrictions, Chinese carriers are benefiting from exemptions that undermine fair trade principles,” a senior official noted. The proposed rule would prohibit Chinese carriers from using Russian airspace on U.S.–China flights, effectively compelling them to follow the same detour routes used by American airlines.
If implemented, the new restrictions are expected to increase flight times, fuel consumption, and ticket prices for Chinese airlines operating in and out of the United States. Analysts predict that this could also reduce cargo capacity and affect the overall profitability of Chinese carriers already facing a slowdown in post-pandemic demand recovery. The DOT has given Chinese airlines just two days to respond to the proposed order, suggesting an accelerated timeline for enforcement possibly as soon as November.
The proposal also carries significant diplomatic undertones, coming at a time of renewed strain between the two superpowers over trade, technology, and defense issues. While the Trump administration has been pushing for tougher trade terms with China, U.S. aerospace giant Boeing is simultaneously in talks with Beijing over a potential sale of 500 aircraft a deal that could inject billions into the U.S. aviation industry but remains vulnerable to political headwinds.
International observers say the move could prompt reciprocal measures from Beijing, potentially targeting American airlines or expanding restrictions on U.S. carriers’ access to Chinese airports. Industry experts warn that a tit-for-tat escalation could disrupt the fragile post-pandemic recovery of global aviation and worsen geopolitical divisions within the airline sector.
Adding to the intrigue, former President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet later this month in South Korea, where transport and trade issues are likely to feature prominently on the agenda. Whether this proposed ban becomes a bargaining tool or a flashpoint in U.S.–China relations remains to be seen.
For now, the skies over Russia have become the latest theater of geopolitical rivalry where air routes are no longer just pathways of travel, but instruments of strategic and economic leverage between two of the world’s largest powers.