The EU Commission will strengthen its sanctions against Russia by closing its airspace to all Russian owned planes.
Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday, 24 February 2022, the European Union has also sent weapons to Ukraine for the first time in its history, as well as banned Russian-owned media.
This announcement was made in a media briefing by the EU Commission’s president, Ursula von der Leyen, on 27 February.
There would be a ‘prohibition on all Russian-owned, Russian-registered, and Russian-controlled aircraft from taking off, landing, or flying over the territory’, she said.
‘This will apply to any plane, owned, chartered, or otherwise controlled by a Russian legal or natural person,’ she said. ‘Let me be very clear, our airspace will be closed to every Russian plane and that includes the private jets of oligarchs, too.’
Another topic of discussion is whether Russian airspace will be closed off, says John Strickland, director of JLS Consulting, experts in airline strategy, route development, network planning and revenue management.
‘This would have an impact on other countries’ airlines, from the UK and EU states, who would ordinarily use Russian airspace to fly to many destinations in Asia,’ Strickland said.
‘Russia makes a lot of foreign exchange for charging for overflight rights, the use of airspace and navigation, and it is a substantial amount,’ Strickland said.
Picture: Unsplash
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