(Bloomberg) – Washington proposes to ban certain Chinese airlines to fly through Russian air space on trips between China and the US, which would close the gap that allow them to run shorter routes and gain a competitive advantage over US carriers.
The US Department of Transport outlined this step published on Thursday and proposed that it would be 30 days after the final order after the comment period. It quoted provisions in the bilateral agreement of 1980, which specifies “routes above the third countries are carried out on routes available to the airlines of both parties, unless otherwise agreed.”
The ban would apply to flights, including flights operated by Air China, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, passengers carrying or performing the so -called combined services, which include the transport of passengers, cargo and mail to the same path.
Jiakun, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, criticized the proposed US restrictions on a regular press briefing in Beijing on Friday and stated that they did not contribute to traveling between the two countries. Chano -American tensions were again expanded later on Friday, when US President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs to China and questioned the planned meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
While the most effective routes connecting certain parts of the US and China render the course of Russian air space, which were closed to American carriers in 2022 after a Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, Chinese airlines can offer more direct routes through the Russian air space, which the department said that it will not only shorten flights, but also save fuel and other operating costs.
Airlines for America, a business group, representing the largest American airlines, applauded the US government order on Friday. “This is an important step that will help ensure that American airlines can compete with Chinese carriers on equal conditions,” he said.
-S assists by Jacob Gu.
(Update with a statement from an American business group of airlines in the last paragraph; adds background.)
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