US Prohibits Chinese Flights from Flying Over Russian Airspace, Significantly Extending Flight Routes

China-US - A flight from Fuzhou, China to New York now takes 19 hours and 20 minutes, longer than the journey to New Zealand. Previously, the fastest direct flight from Fuzhou to New York took 14 hours and 55 minutes. A new commercial aviation record has just been broken. According to aviation expert "Simple Flying," a flight from Fuzhou on China's east coast to New York has become the world's longest commercial route.

The flight operated by China Airlines takes 19 hours and 20 minutes, breaking the previous record held by the Singapore-New York route. This record will be broken in October 2023, marking a landmark turning point in the global aviation industry.

The actual distance between Fuzhou and New York is only 12,500 kilometers, much shorter than the 15,300 kilometers between Singapore and American metropolises. However, the flight time for the Chinese route is longer.

The reason for this anomaly is the inability to fly over Russian airspace. The planes of China Airlines are forced to take an alternative route over the Pacific instead of a more direct route across the Atlantic and Eurasia.

The time it takes for passengers flying from New York to Fuzhou is longer than the time it takes to fly to farther destinations, such as Manila, Philippines (18 hours and 20 minutes) or Auckland, New Zealand (18 hours and 10 minutes).

Unless the restriction on flying over Russian airspace is lifted, or other airlines open new, longer routes in the coming months, this record may remain at least until 2025.

The Trump administration proposed a week ago to prohibit Chinese airlines from flying over Russian airspace on flights between China and the United States, arguing that it would put U.S. airlines at a disadvantage. The Chinese Foreign Ministry responded with "We suggest the U.S. reflect on its own policies."

Flights are not allowed to fly over Russian airspace. Seven Chinese airlines have written to the U.S. Department of Transportation to appeal, stating that the ban would increase ticket prices, extend flight times, and potentially affect some routes.

Source: rfi

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1846293294903307/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author himself.