Iran-Israel war: why China’s airlines may face less turbulence than Western rivals
In a sky divided by conflict, some companies face longer, costlier routes – giving Chinese firms a competitive edge, analysts say
Analysts said that while almost all carriers have diverted services to bypass Iran and parts of the Middle East, Western firms are at a disadvantage: they remain barred from Russian airspace, which Chinese companies continue to use.
“For travellers, especially those from China, it’s all about airfare and flight times,” said an analyst at the Shanghai-based aviation news portal and consultancy Airwefly.
“The latest developments may widen the competitive gap Chinese airlines already have over others.”
Iran, Israel, Iraq and Jordan have intermittently closed their airspace since the Israeli government began its military campaign against Iran on June 13. The United States launched air strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on Sunday, raising fears of a wider regional war and further disrupting flights between Europe and Asia.
Both Western and Chinese carriers have avoided Iranian skies in recent days over concerns that their aircraft could be misidentified by air defence systems. Flight diversions and cancellations increased after Tehran’s missile assault on an American military base in Qatar on Monday, according to airlines and some media reports.