Flying over Russia: Chinese airlines win and Europeans lose

European flights to China have become longer, more expensive and even harder to find as more and more airlines cancel routes — but Chinese airlines are facing no such problems. It's a side effect of Russia's war on Ukraine, which has led to tit-for-tat sanctions between the Kremlin and Western governments, including the closure of Russia's vast airspace to European airlines. But that doesn't affect countries like China with warmer Kremlin ties. “It is a competitive disadvantage for the European carriers. That’s clear,” said Berlin airport CEO Aletta von Massenbach. With the world's largest country turned into a giant no-fly zone for Western operators, passenger and cargo carriers are forced to take longer routes to avoid Russia — and bear the costs associated with burning more fuel and paying overtime for pilots and cabin crew. The struggle to turn a profit on travel between Europe and Asia has led several airlines, including Lufthansa, British Airways and Poland's LOT, to suspend some routes. Instead, Chinese and other non-European carriers are increasing direct flights from Asia to European cities. “Our airlines serving, for example, Berlin-Beijing have to take a different route if it’s a German airline compared to a Chinese airline," von Massenbach said. After at least five European airlines canceled flights to Asia, the European Commission promised in October a study on competition in international routes touching upon this issue. But the airline industry remains skeptical that Brussels will act.<br/>