Overview

• Reuters reported on Oct. 9 that the administration proposed forbidding Chinese airlines from overflying Russia on routes to and from the United States.
• The measure remains a proposal rather than an enacted rule, with RIA Novosti relaying Reuters' account and no formal U.S. announcement included.
• U.S. airlines have criticized the competitive advantage they say Chinese carriers gain by flying shorter, cheaper paths across Russian territory.
• The U.S. government has already barred American carriers from comparable overflights of Russia, creating an imbalance described by industry critics.
• An economist quoted by RIA Novosti said possible U.S. steps could include limiting Chinese flight frequencies or blocking aircraft that transited Russia, characterizing such moves as escalatory, and noted roughly 50 weekly flights by each side under current agreements.