SAS “Concerned” That Chinese Airlines Are Allowed To Fly To Norway Over Russian Airspace

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) has raised concerns about Chinese airlines being allowed to fly to Norway via Russian airspace. The statement comes as SAS reaffirms its strong support for Ukrainian sovereignty in the wake of Russia’s ongoing invasion. Russian airspace and airlines have been subject to Western sanctions since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.

According to SAS’s Chief Services Officer Kjetil Håbjørg, Norway’s airport operator, Avinor, is incentivizing Chinese airlines to fly to Norway over Russia. This, in turn, creates unequal competition, as European airlines cannot use Russian airspace and take advantage of shorter distances to East Asia. Additionally, Chinese airlines flying over Russia

are paying overflight fees to the aggressor country, something Håbjørg says contradicts the stated commitment to support Ukraine strongly.

Sancionted Airspace And Unfair Competition

The issue of unfair competition from Chinese airlines using Russian airspace for European flights has been raised multiple times. While European flights to China have become longer and more expensive due to detours, Chinese carriers face no such limitations. Take Scandinavia: the region has lost 700,000 departing seats to Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine due to sanctions in 2024, according to a SAS report published on May 1, 2025.

European carriers may be eager to resume more cost-effective flight paths. However, Håbjørg emphasized the importance of weighing such decisions carefully, stating that “it’s crucial for all stakeholders to consider the broader implications and prioritize values over convenience.” In a social media post, EVP and Chief Services Officer at Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Kjetil Håbjørg, wrote:

“In light of recent developments, we are deeply concerned about how Avinor here in Norway are incentivizing Chinese airlines to fly to Norway over Russia. Due to sanctions, SAS cannot fly over Russia, and we are surprised that a public company like Avinor would support Chinese airlines that pay Russia overflying fees.”

Imbalance Will Persist

As long as Russian airspace is closed, the imbalance between European and Chinese airlines will persist. In addition to the loss of 700,000 departing seats to Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, an extra 500,000 departing seats, representing a 57% decline, to affected areas in Asia and the Middle East have also been lost, as per the SAS report on the impact of Russian airspace closures on Scandinavian aviation.

Additionally, the average airborne time on routes to the East has significantly increased. This, in turn, has reduced service quality and raised costs compared to airlines that can still overfly Russia. For example, following the closure of Russian airspace, the average airborne time for SAS’s Copenhagen to Shanghai route increased by nearly two hours, or 19%. This has resulted in SAS not operating direct flights to China in 2025.

Russian, Belarusian, and Ukrainian airspace are not the only no-fly zones for SAS

. In recent years, conflicts and tensions have also emerged in the Middle East and Asia. Currently, the Scandinavian carrier is unable to fly over Iran. Additionally, the entire area from Lebanon in the north to the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula is a no-fly zone for civil aircraft due to Israel’s offensive against Lebanon and Gaza. In total, Scandinavia has lost 1.1 million seats on departures to the geopolitically affected areas from 2019 to 2024. These areas include: