Russia wants to ban transit flights from Europe

In response to sanctions imposed by the EU against Russian Dobrolet, and the fines imposed on several Russian air carriers for flights in the Crimea, Russia is considering a ban or restrictions on transit flights of European airlines through its territory. This is with reference to own sources reported by the Russian «Vedomosti».

The decision on banning or restriction of the airspace of Russia shall be taken at the government level, therefore, according to the publication, now under the  negotiations between representatives of Russian airlines, the transportation Ministry and the foreign Ministry.

Russian officials believe the sanctions imposed by the EU, unfriendly, and therefore require a response. Such a measure may be the closure of the TRANS-Siberian air corridor over the territory of the Russian Federation, which Western airlines had enjoyed since the 1970s.

Now the airline is “Aeroflot” on account of which contributions are transferred, receives for the provision of air routes for transit flights about $300 million a year. This figure had previously reached the level of $500 million, so the Russian side considers such conditions are not interesting enough on the background of existing EU sanctions.

But sources close to the Board of Directors of Aeroflot, argue that if these financial injections will stop, the airline will be difficult to provide maintenance for its fleet, supporting its own subsidiaries and the operation of flights on unprofitable routes, so the outcome of the negotiations is still unknown.

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