The United Kingdom was the first to ban Russian aircraft in its airspace. It was followed over the last few days by Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and then France. Finally, on Sunday evening, the entire European Union, through the voice of its President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyenhas decided to completely ban all Russian aircraft from European airspace.
The tone is clear. " We propose a ban on all aircraft owned, registered and controlled by Russia. These aircraft will no longer be able to land, take off or fly over European Union territory.. This will apply to any aircraft".said the President of the Commission. " Our airspace will be closed to all Russian aircraft. And that includes the private jets of the oligarchs".she added.
Air France had announced a few hours before the EU ban that it would stop all its flights to Russia from Sunday evening.
On the Russian side, Aeroflot and its competitor S7 are the main airlines affected by the measure. As a matter of fact, some 200 frequencies a week are disappearing between the EU and Russia.
EU-Russia: stalemate across the board
According to data from the FlightRadar 24 website, it was scheduled to take place over 7 days between 27 February and 5 March. 22 weekly flights between Paris CDG and Moscow Sheremetyevo as well as a weekly flight between Orly and Moscow Domodedovo. 39 flights would connect Frankfurt to the two Moscow airports, 7 flights from Brussels to Sheremetyevo, 24 flights from Amsterdam to Sheremetyevo and 16 flights from Berlin to Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo.
Switzerland has not yet taken any decision regarding the suspension of flights.. Swiss offers at least three flights a week to Zurich-Moscow, while Aeroflot flies to Geneva and Zurich. The S7 carrier also connects Geneva with Moscow Domodedovo twice a week. According to Flightradar, a Zurich-Moscow flight is scheduled for Monday with Swiss, while the Aeroflot flight will be cancelled as the airline has to fly over the EU to land in Switzerland...
Outside Europe, Canada and Japan have also decided to ban flights by Russian airlines. In retaliation, Russia has banned some thirty countries, including France, from flying over its territory.. This forces airlines to find new routes to Asia, particularly via the Persian Gulf. Delays are therefore likely between Europe and the Far East.
Finnair suspends certain flights to Asia
The proof is already in the pudding with Air France and Finnair. The French company announced on Sunday the temporary suspension of flights to and from China, Korea and Japan, " the time to study flight plan options to avoid Russian airspace, in compliance with the directives of the French and international authorities" says Air France.
Finnair is one of the Finnish airlines most affected by the ban on overflights of Russian airspace. The airline operates flights from Helsinki via Russian territory to all of North-East Asia. Finnair is therefore forced to cancel its flights to and from Seoul, Osaka, Tokyo, Shanghai and Guangzhou until 6 March.. The carrier will advise if this situation persists. Finnair continues to fly to Bangkok, Phuket, Singapore and Delhi.. But a new route will extend the flight time by an average of an hour.
