Beijing on Friday criticised the Trump administration’s proposal to ban Chinese airlines from using Russian airspace on US routes, warning that Washington’s policies could hurt American businesses.
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US transport regulators proposed the ban on Thursday in a bid to eliminate what they described as an unfair advantage enjoyed by Chinese carriers flying shorter, cheaper routes via Russia.
The Chinese foreign ministry said such restrictions would be detrimental to people-to-people exchanges with the United States, while urging Washington to consider policy impacts back home.
“We would suggest that the US side reflect on how its own policies are affecting American companies, rather than unjustifiably suppressing other countries and making global consumers pay the price,” ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said.
Russia has barred US airlines and many other foreign carriers from its airspace, in retaliation for Washington and several European countries banning Russian flights over their airspace after Russian forces invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
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Russian airspace offers the shortest routes connecting Asia with Europe and North America, so being able to fly over Russia means shorter flight times, lower fuel consumption and reduced operating costs for airlines.