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Trump bans Chinese airlines from flying over Russia in US flights

Trump's administration proposed on Thursday to ban Chinese airlines from flying above Russia during flights into and out of the United States. They said the practice places American carriers at an unfair disadvantage.

U.S. Airlines have criticized for years the decision of allowing Chinese carriers to fly above Russia on certain flights, because they gain the benefit of reduced flying time and less fuel.

In its proposal order, the U.S. Transportation Department stated on Thursday that "this imbalance has now become a significant factor in competitiveness." USDOT announced that it would ban Chinese overflights to "level this competitive disparity between U.S. air carriers and Chinese airlines."

The Chinese Embassy in Washington has not yet responded to the report.

In retaliation to Washington's ban on Russian flights over the U.S. after its invasion of Ukraine in March 2022, Russia has banned U.S. and other foreign airlines from flying over their airspace.

This decision may affect some U.S. flights operated on Air China, China Eastern Airlines, Xiamen Airlines, and China Southern.

The move comes amid increasing tensions between China and the United States on a number of economic issues.

USDOT has given Chinese carriers until November to respond. A final order may be issued as early as then. Reports indicate that the United States granted additional flights to Chinese carriers in May 2023 after they agreed to not fly over Russia.

USDOT announced last year that Chinese airlines would be able to increase weekly round-trip flights from the U.S. to 50. Before restrictions were placed in early 2020, each side allowed more than 150 round-trip weekly passenger flights.

Some U.S. airlines have informed the Trump administration that direct flights from the East Coast to China are not feasible due to the additional cost of not flying over Russia.

(source: Reuters)