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

See Full Page