The US Government announced a proposal to ban Chinese airlines from utilizing Russian airspace on their routes to and from the United States. This measure follows concerns that American carriers are disadvantaged since they cannot access Russian airspace due to existing sanctions related to the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine. The United States Department of Transportation highlighted the potential for “substantial adverse competitive effects on US air carriers,” prompting this proposed action.
In light of these developments, a closer examination of the current operations of Chinese airlines servicing the US is warranted. Notably, Air China holds the position as the airline with the most flights and seats on US routes this month, according to scheduling data from aviation analytics firm Cirium. Air China operates a total of 124 flights and 41,912 seats on US routes, averaging two round trips per day across five different routes. The majority of these flights originate from Beijing (PEK), with one route from Shenzhen (SZX) to Los Angeles (LAX).
Among the Beijing routes, Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and New York John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) utilize the Boeing 747, while Los Angeles (LAX) and San Francisco (SFO) employ the Boeing 777. Notably, the routes from Beijing and Shenzhen to Los Angeles are among four that overfly Russian airspace. Aviation expert Floris de Haan noted that travelers often prioritize price and convenience over the geopolitical implications of their chosen routes.
Two other carriers, China Eastern Airlines and China Southern Airlines, also maintain significant operations to the US. China Eastern operates 105 flights in October 2025, with an average of over one round trip per day. The airline’s routes begin in Shanghai and include daily flights to Los Angeles using the Boeing 777-300ER, along with less frequent services to San Francisco and New York JFK, the latter also overflying Russia.
China Southern Airlines, with 88 flights scheduled for October 2025, connects Guangzhou to LAX with 22 flights each way using the same Boeing 777-300ER model. This airline also services routes to JFK and San Francisco, and operates two routes to San Francisco using the Boeing 787-9.
In contrast, smaller carriers such as Xiamen Airlines and Hainan Airlines have less frequent operations. Xiamen Airlines offers two US routes that do not directly overfly Russia, utilizing the Boeing 787-9 with three weekly flights from Xiamen (XMN) to LAX and two from Fuzhou (FOX) to JFK. Hainan Airlines flies thrice weekly from Beijing to Boston (BOS) on a Boeing 787-9, continuing its journey to Brussels before returning to Beijing. Additionally, the airline operates a weekly service from Haikou (HAK) to Seattle (SEA) via Chongqing (CKG).
The final airline in this overview is Sichuan Airlines, which operates a single route to Los Angeles (LAX) from Chengdu (TFU). This month, it has scheduled 13 outbound and 9 inbound flights using the Airbus A350.
As the US Government considers its proposal, the implications for these airlines and their operational routes could be significant, potentially reshaping air travel dynamics between the US and China. The final decision on the proposed ban remains pending, with stakeholders in the aviation sector closely monitoring developments.
