By David Shepardson
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Trump administration on Thursday proposed banning Chinese airlines from flying over Russia on flights to and from the United States, saying the practice puts American carriers at a disadvantage.
U.S. airlines have long criticized the decision to allow Chinese carriers to fly over Russia on some flights because it which gives them the advantage of decreased flying time and burning less fuel.
The U.S. Transportation Department said on Thursday in its proposed order “this imbalance has become a significant competitive factor.” USDOT said it was proposing to bar Chinese overflights “to level this competitive disparity amongst U.S. and Chinese air carriers.”
The Chinese embassy in Washington did not have an immediate comment.
Russia has barred U.S. airlines and other foreign carriers from flying over its airspace in retaliation for Washington banning Russian flights over the U.S. in March 2022 after the country invaded Ukraine.
The decision could impact some U.S. flights operated by Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines and China Southern.
The push comes amid growing tension between China and the United States over a series of economic issues.
USDOT is giving Chinese carriers two days to respond to the order and said a final order could be in effect as soon as November.
In May 2023, the United States approved additional flights by Chinese carriers after they agreed not to fly over Russia on new flights, Reuters reported.
Last year, USDOT said Chinese passenger airlines could boost weekly round-trip U.S. flights to 50. More than 150 weekly round-trip passenger flights were allowed by each side before restrictions were imposed in early 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Some U.S. carriers have told the Trump administration that direct East Coast flights to China are not economically feasible because of the added expense of not flying over Russia.
(Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Chris Sanders)
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