-- This summer will see Chinese airlines adding 2,350 flights to Western Europe, seizing the advantage as disruptions stemming from the Iran war force rivals onto longer, costlier routes, Nikkei Asia reported Friday.
While European carriers detour south due to closed Russian and Ukrainian airspace, Chinese airlines still fly direct over Russia, according to the report.
The detours cost between $8,000 and $20,000 extra per hour in fuel alone, Nikkei Asia wrote.
Air China (SHA:601111, HKG:0753) leads the charge with 969 added flights over the March-to-October season, followed by China Eastern (SHA:600115, HKG:0670) and China Southern (SHA:600029, HKG:1055) with 697 and 410, respectively, according to the report.
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