Major Chinese airlines have strongly opposed a recent US proposal to prohibit them from using Russian airspace for round-trip flights between China and the United States. The proposed ban, which could be enforced as early as November, has sparked significant backlash from the aviation industry and raised concerns about its broader implications. The US claims that Chinese carriers gain an unfair cost advantage over US airlines, which are barred from Russian airspace due to existing restrictions. In response, seven Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Eastern Airlines, and China Southern Airlines, have formally requested an extension of the comment period from two to seven business days to assess the impact and prepare a comprehensive response. Industry experts warn that the ban would disrupt travel for thousands of passengers, increase airfares, and force travelers to opt for longer connecting flights via hubs like Hong Kong, Japan, or South Korea. Qi Qi, a senior civil aviation analyst, criticized the US demand as unreasonable and unprofessional, emphasizing the need for rational and practical solutions. The proposal comes amid escalating tensions in US-China trade and economic relations. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian highlighted that the restrictions would harm people-to-people exchanges and ultimately damage US interests. As of September, Chinese airlines operated 50.73% of direct China-US flights, with US carriers accounting for the remaining 49.27%. Analysts argue that rerouting flights would increase travel time and costs, negatively impacting business and trade exchanges between the two nations. Lin Zhijie, an independent aviation analyst, suggested that Chinese airlines should be granted reciprocal rights to operate stopover routes via Tokyo, similar to US carriers.