Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on October 20, 2025
1 min readLast updated: January 21, 2026
Add as preferred source on GoogleAir France-KLM CEO highlights the disadvantage of avoiding Russian airspace, adding flight time and costs, while Chinese airlines benefit from faster routes.
FRANKFURT (Reuters) -The CEO of Air France-KLM said on Monday that western Europe-based airlines need more favourable regulation because the obligation to fly around Russian airspace puts them at an added disadvantage against Chinese rivals.
In an interview with Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung and French newspaper Les Echos together with Lufthansa Group CEO Carsten Spohr, Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith said having to skirt around Russia adds between two and two-and-a-half hours to flights between Europe and Asia.
"All costs arising from the additional flight time must be borne. Furthermore, customers do not necessarily want to spend two extra hours on an already long flight to Asia," said Smith, adding that Chinese airlines do not have to take the detour.
He said that the faster access to Europe enjoyed by Chinese airlines amounted to a "gift" while western airlines faced competitive disadvantages.
In the interview, both Smith and Spohr backed a proposal by the U.S. government to block access to U.S. airspace for any airline that continues to use Russia's airspace.
(Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Ilona Wissenbach, Editing by Miranda Murray)
Airspace refers to the portion of the atmosphere controlled by a country above its territory, including its territorial waters. It is crucial for the regulation of air traffic and the safety of flights.
A competitive disadvantage occurs when a company or entity has a lower ability to compete in the market compared to its rivals, often due to factors like higher costs or regulatory burdens.
Flight time is the duration from when an aircraft takes off until it lands. It can be affected by various factors, including the flight path, weather conditions, and air traffic control.
A regulatory framework is a set of rules and guidelines established by authorities to govern specific industries or sectors, ensuring compliance and promoting fair competition.
Customer preference refers to the inclinations or choices of consumers regarding products or services, which can significantly influence market trends and business strategies.
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