newstodate.aero

Mar 01, 2023 (newstodate): Russia's response to western sanctions includes the closure of its airspace to airlines from "unfriendly" states.
   This has placed a heavy toll on airlines relying on long haul flights between Europe and Asia through Russian airspace, including Finnair that is seeing its route between Helsinki and Shanghai extended by 3,200 km, translating into three-hours longer flight time.
   At the same time, other carriers, notably from "neutral" Gulf states including Emirates, continue to operate flights through Russian airspace without limitations.
   Even more disruptive to the competitive situation are flights by "friendly" Chinese airlines that benefit from unchanged access on routes to Europe and the USA.
   IATA has therefore long and repeatedly expressed its wish for a resumption of talks with Russia on lifting the politically-motivated limitations on access through Russian airspace - to no avail.
   However, the Russian ban on "unfriendly" airlines' flights through its airspace including the Sibir air lanes has an adverse effect on the country itself: in 2019, airlines paid about 1.6 bio euro on overflight charges - money badly needed to keep Russia's commercial aviation, primarily Aeroflot, in the air, and leading to deep cuts in Rosaviatsyiya's budgets for staff and equipment.