The US Transportation Department has proposed a ban on Chinese airlines flying over Russian airspace on routes to and from America, citing an “unfair” competitive edge. This move comes after Russia closed its airspace to many Western airlines in 2022, following Western nations’ decision to close their skies to Russian flights amid the Ukraine conflict. As a result, non-Russian carriers have been forced to reroute around Russian territory, adding time and cost to transcontinental flights.

China, however, has not faced similar restrictions, allowing its airlines to continue using Russian airspace. The US Transportation Department stated that this situation is “unfair and has resulted in substantial adverse competitive effects on US air carriers.” The proposal, which could affect flights operated by Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines, and China Southern, targets only passenger flights and will not apply to cargo operations.

The affected Chinese airlines have been given two days to respond, with a final decision expected as early as November. Some US carriers oppose the measure, warning that avoiding Russian airspace would make direct flights to China less viable due to higher costs and reduced cargo capacity. The move has already had an impact on the stock market, with shares of China’s three largest airlines dipping slightly after the report.

The proposal is part of rising tensions between Washington and Beijing over trade policy. The US has threatened new tariffs over China’s ties with Moscow, accusing Beijing of “funding” the Ukraine conflict through energy imports. China has dismissed these claims as “unacceptable,” insisting its trade with Russia is “legitimate and lawful.”

The development comes amid efforts to restore flights between the US and Russia, which have been suspended since 2022. Kremlin aide Kirill Dmitriev recently suggested that US-Russia air travel could resume by late 2025, as part of Ukraine peace efforts mediated by the US. Russian Ambassador to the US Alexander Darchiev confirmed in August that the process of restoring flights between the two countries was already “underway.”