US carriers are urging the Trump administration to reject additional direct flights from China after Chinese President Xi Jinping raised the possibility of expanding air links, arguing that Chinese airlines already hold a routing advantage because they can overfly Russia on eight flights to the United States. The United States and China currently can each operate around 50 round-trip flights weekly, down from more than 150 before COVID-19 restrictions. Airlines for America chief Chris Sununu said in a letter to the administration that US airlines incur substantial costs by routing around Russia, while Chinese carriers retain access on a limited number of routes. The United States barred Russian flights from its airspace in March 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine, and Russia responded by blocking US carriers from transiting its territory. A 2025 Transportation Department proposal to restrict Chinese airlines from using Russian airspace was shelved amid opposition from other US agencies and ahead of trade talks with China. Trump separately highlighted Boeing's 111-aircraft deal involving Biman Bangladesh and Turkish Airlines, while a potential Boeing agreement with Chinese airlines could regain attention after an aircraft-order announcement in May 2026.