All major Chinese airlines operating flights to the United States have formally opposed or asked for reconsideration of a US government proposal that could bar them from flying over Russian airspace on US routes as early as next month.
In a filing to the US Department of Transportation on Tuesday, Air China said it “opposes” the proposal because it would make travel more inconvenient for passengers.
“Air China estimates that at least 4,400 passengers holding Air China tickets for travel in November and December 2025 will be affected if the proposed restriction takes effect,” the company said.
“This period includes major holidays such as Thanksgiving and Christmas; the disruption would significantly impact passenger rights and public interest.”
The Chinese flag carrier also requested a grace period of at least 60 days should the US decide to proceed with the proposal to allow time for passengers to rebook and to minimise any disruption to its operations.
China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Xiamen Airlines and Sichuan Airlines have also submitted official filings in response to the proposal.
The plan comes amid a broader escalation in US-China trade tensions over recent weeks. It was unveiled by Washington on October 9, the same day that Beijing said it would tighten export controls on rare earths and other items.
The US transport department said the proposed order was intended to address the “competitive disparity amongst US and Chinese air carriers”, as Chinese airlines could shorten and reduce the cost of flights to the US by flying over Russia – an option unavailable to US carriers, which have been barred from Russian airspace since 2022 in a retaliatory move by Moscow.
US airlines have supported the proposal in their formal comments to the department.
But China’s Xiamen Airlines said in its filing that re-routing would be environmentally counterproductive.
“Mandatory re-routing will lead to increased flight distances, higher fuel consumption, and consequently greater carbon emissions,” it said. “This runs counter to the shared goals of promoting sustainability and environmental responsibility in civil aviation.”
In its filing, Xiamen Airlines asked the US government to reconsider the proposal, calling for the safe, sustainable and mutually beneficial operation of China–US air services to be maintained.
China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Wednesday that the proposed restrictions targeting Chinese airlines were “not conducive to person-to-person exchanges” between the two countries and would “undermine the interests of the US itself”, adding that China had noted widespread opposition to the proposal among the American public. - SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST
