Chinese airlines protest US plan to ban their flights over Russian airspace

Chinese airlines are protesting a U.S. proposal to ban them from flying over Russian airspace for flights to and from the United States. The U.S. claims these flights create an unfair advantage for Chinese carriers over American airlines, which cannot use Russian airspace due to sanctions imposed after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Six Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern, have filed complaints with the U.S. Department of Transportation. They argue that the proposed ban would harm the public interest, inconvenience thousands of travelers from both countries, and lead to increased flight times, higher costs, and elevated airfares. Aviation experts note that U.S. airlines already face longer flight times and increased costs on U.S.-China routes due to the Russian airspace closure. While Chinese carriers have also experienced financial struggles, especially since the pandemic, their ability to traverse Russian airspace offers a cost advantage. The U.S. Department of Transportation stated that the p... download the app to read more