US DOT Proposes Ban on Chinese Airlines Over Russia for Fair Competition

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has introduced a proposed regulation aimed at prohibiting Chinese airlines from traversing Russian airspace on flights between the United States and China. This move seeks to create a level playing field, as the DOT believes that current practices afford an unfair advantage to Chinese carriers.

On October 9, 2025, the US DOT suggested this proposal, which was reported by various news outlets. The intention is to “balance the competitive gap” between the two nations. Presently, several Chinese airlines continue to use Russian airspace for their flights, even though many countries have imposed restrictions following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022.

The new directive issued by the US DOT characterizes the existing situation as “unfair,” highlighting that it has caused “substantial adverse competitive effects on US air carriers.” As a result, US airlines are at a disadvantage on these routes, lacking similar access to airspace compared to their Chinese counterparts.

If the proposal is enacted, it could affect various Chinese airlines operating on routes between the US and China, including Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen Airlines, and China Southern Airlines. The Chinese carriers will have just 48 hours to respond to the proposal, and a final order may be enforced as early as November 2025.

New ruling amid rising geopolitical tensions

This proposed regulation comes at a time when trade relations between the US and China are increasingly strained. Tensions are high due to the US government’s significant increase in tariffs on Chinese goods, which reached as much as 145% in April 2025. In retaliation, China responded with a corresponding tariff hike of 125% on imports from the US, further complicating the trade landscape.

In an effort to mitigate these tensions, the Trump administration established a temporary tariff truce with China on May 12, 2025, which lowered tariffs to 10%. This agreement is currently set to expire on November 10, 2025, leaving uncertainty about the future of tariffs and trade relations between the two countries.