France, China Negotiate Flight Increases Amid Russia Airspace Closure

PARIS—France and China are negotiating the ramp-up of flights between the two countries, amid fears on the French side that a rapid increase could distort competition in favor of Chinese carriers. 

Russian airspace has been closed to European carriers since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine over a year ago. European airlines face extended flight times and extra costs to operate to Asian destinations. 

Traffic rights between France and China fall under a bilateral agreement that dates back to 1966. The agreement allows for a maximum of 126 weekly flights each for the French side and the Chinese side, although this number has never been reached.  

In summer 2019, around 90 weekly flights were authorized, with about two-thirds of those were operated by Chinese carriers.  

The bilateral accord was last updated in 2017 and contains a clause that foresees discussions between the two sides on how to proceed in the event of one country’s carriers being unable to fly over Russia. Such a situation adds 2-3 extra hr. of flight time and the need for more crew, hiking up costs.  

Following years of minimal flights during the pandemic, the end of COVID-related travel restrictions in China at the beginning of 2023 opened up the possibility of a return to more normal levels of traffic between the two countries.  

“Since the reopening of Chinese borders in January-February 2023, and through very frequent exchanges with Chinese authorities, the minister of transport is proceeding with a gradual reopening of traffic with China, which is essential in France for a certain number of players,” a French transport ministry spokesperson said.  

As of May 3, the number of weekly flights had reached 16 per week, a number that will increase to 50 beginning in June, or 51% of the number allowed in summer 2019, the spokesperson said. “A complete reopening of traffic could have damaging consequences,” the spokesperson added. “Indeed, the distortion of competition brought about by the fact that it is impossible for French carriers to overfly Russia has significant consequences.”

Air France is currently the only French carrier currently operating direct flights to China. The airline was flying three times a week to China at the start of 2023, ramping up to six times a week in early May, and has plans for 14 flights per week starting in July—one flight per day each to Shanghai and Beijing.  

A sharp increase in the number of flights allowed would put the carrier at a disadvantage as its Chinese counterparts would be able to operate the routes at lower costs, raising the possibility that routes would become unviable for Air France.  

Just a few weeks ago, during a state visit of French President Emmanuel Macron to Beijing, with Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury as part of the economic delegation, the two countries unveiled a raft of lucrative contracts. These included the announcement that Airbus would add a second final assembly line at its Tianjin, China site, doubling capacity at its Chinese plant.