US airlines have called on Congress and the White House to impose restrictions on foreign carriers to ban flights to the United States using Russian airspace. On this subject writing The New York Times (NYT), citing three sources. The authors of the appeal consider that such an opportunity gives their foreign competitors an “unfair advantage”.
Airlines for America spokeswoman Marley Collier said airlines want President Joe Biden’s administration to take action and ban foreign carriers flying over Russia from “flying, landing and transiting through US airports.” .
The NYT, citing appeals from US carriers, notes that after the introduction of a ban on flights in Russian airspace, travel time and fuel consumption for US airlines increased significantly. At the same time, they had to change the schedule of some flights, reduce the maximum number of passengers and cargo and postpone the launch of more than 10 routes to Mumbai, Tokyo, Seoul and other cities.
Due to the ban on flights over Russia, foreign competitors – such as Air India, Emirates and China Eastern Airlines – are attracting more passengers on flights to and from the United States, according to reports. appeals to the authorities. Airlines for America estimated the loss of US airlines at $2 billion per year.
According to the NYT, amid demands from carriers, the US Department of Transportation has prepared a draft order to ban Chinese airlines delivering passengers to the United States from flying over Russian airspace. The source of the edition clarified that this document is under consideration at the White House.
In February, the agency Reuters wrote that the issue of a ban on flights over Russia for airlines serving the United States had also been raised in the Senate.
Many Russian airlines, after the start of the military operation in Ukraine, suspended international flights due to the closure of the airspace of the European Union and other states for them. The Federal Air Transport Agency has recommended that carriers who lease planes from foreign companies stop overseas flights lest the liners be seized. Russia, in turn, has limited the ability to operate flights on its territory for 36 countries.
