WASHINGTON, Oct 9 (Reuters) - The Trump administration

on Thursday proposed banning Chinese airlines from flying over

Russia on flights to and from the United States, saying the

practice puts American carriers at a disadvantage.

U.S. airlines have long criticized the decision to allow

Chinese carriers to fly over Russia on some flights because it

which gives them the advantage of decreased flying time and

burning less fuel.

The U.S. Transportation Department said on Thursday in its

proposed order "this imbalance has become a significant

competitive factor." USDOT said it was proposing to bar Chinese

overflights "to level this competitive disparity amongst U.S.

and Chinese air carriers."

The Chinese embassy in Washington did not have an

immediate comment.

Russia has barred U.S. airlines and other foreign

carriers from flying over its airspace in retaliation for

Washington banning Russian flights over the U.S. in March 2022

after the country invaded Ukraine.

The decision could impact some U.S. flights operated by

Air China, China Eastern, Xiamen

Airlines and China Southern.

The push comes amid growing tension between China and

the United States over a series of economic issues.

USDOT is giving Chinese carriers two days to respond to

the order and said a final order could be in effect as soon as

November.

In May 2023, the United States approved additional flights by

Chinese carriers after they agreed not to fly over Russia on new

flights, Reuters reported.

Last year, USDOT said Chinese passenger airlines could

boost weekly round-trip U.S. flights to 50. More than 150 weekly

round-trip passenger flights were allowed by each side before

restrictions were imposed in early 2020 due to the COVID-19

pandemic.

Some U.S. carriers have told the Trump administration

that direct East Coast flights to China are not economically

feasible because of the added expense of not flying over Russia.