The United States and more than 30 countries have closed airspace for aircraft from Russia
'02.03.2022'
Nurgul Sultanova-Chetin
The European Union and the United States have closed their airspace to Russian civilian aircraft. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the countries of the world have begun to close their airspace to Russian civil aviation. The United Kingdom was the first to take this step, however, in a truncated format, reports “New Time".
Then Poland and the Czech Republic announced the closure of their airspace for Russian civil aviation.
And on February 27, 2022, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union (EU) is completely closing the skies for Russian airlines.
She clarified that these aircraft will be prohibited from landing, taking off at EU airports and flying over EU territory.
On the subject: Flight to nowhere: Aeroflot plane did not fly to New York due to sanctions against Russia
The actions of the EU are joined by countries that are not members of the Union. Canada was the first country outside of Europe. Because of this ban, the Aeroflot plane was forced to turn around over the Atlantic Ocean, flying to New York (USA).
On the night of March 1-2, 2022 USA announced that they were closing their airspace to Russian civil aviation.
List of countries whose skies are closed to Russian aviation
We publish a complete list of countries that have closed or announced the closure of their airspace for civil aviation of the Russian Federation (in some cases, with the exception of humanitarian flights):
- United Kingdom
- Moldova (airspace closed to all civil aviation due to hostilities in Ukraine)
- Finland
- North Macedonia
- Albania
- Iceland
- Canada (first state outside of Europe)
- Switzerland
- USA.
And 27 states of the European Union:
- Poland
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Romania
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Slovenia
- Ireland
- Bulgaria
- Netherlands
- Austria
- Germany
- Sweden
- Italy
- Belgium
- France
- Denmark
- Norway
- Portugal
- Greece
- Malta
- Luxembourg
- Spain
- Cyprus
- Slovakia
- Hungary
- Croatia.
Apart from Ukraine, Russian civil aviation can no longer fly in the airspace of 36 countries of the world.
The Russian Federation, in response, closes its airspace to airlines of other countries. Thus, the Russians practically lost the opportunity to travel to Europe.
At the end of February, Turkish Airlines (Turkey) announced the suspension of flights to Sochi, Rostov-on-Don (both Russia) and Minsk (Belarus). At the same time, the Turkish airline notes an increase in demand for the Romanian direction and introduces additional flights from Istanbul to Bucharest.
Singapore Airlines and AirBaltic also canceled flights to Russia today.
And the largest leasing companies in the world began to withdraw aircraft from Russian carriers.
On the subject: What compensation are you entitled to if your flight is rescheduled or cancelled?
Russian Aeroflot stopped selling tickets to the USA (New York, Miami and Los Angeles), Mexico (Cancun) and Cuba (Havana). This is due to the ban from Canada. The company also stops flying to Serbia (Belgrade), because due to the bans of other countries it is impossible to fly there. Although Serbia itself did not close its airspace to Russian aviation.
What to do if your flight is canceled
Airline Aeroflot published information on what to do for passengers whose flights were canceled. Recall that transatlantic flights have been canceled from February 27 to March 2.
For Aeroflot passengers who have booked transportation to/from/through the above points, the airline offers an involuntary refund.
You can issue an involuntary refund at the place where you purchased the ticket. For the return of tickets issued on the website or in the contact center, please contact the round-the-clock phones: +7 (495)223 5555 , 8-800-444-5555 (call within Russia is free), * 555 (for mobile phones), by toll-free contact center numbers around the worldThrough feedback form on the airline's website or own sales offices.
Up-to-date information on the status of flights will be posted Online and in the official accounts of the airline in social networks. Passengers are asked to follow the schedule changes.
Airline "S7" also posted on its official website for passengers of canceled flights.
Passengers of canceled international flights can receive a full refund of the ticket price or exchange tickets for available flights on other dates.
If your ticket was purchased on our website or in the application and you received an SMS about the cancellation of the flight, you can return and exchange the ticket yourself in the section "My bookings».
If the ticket was bought at the box office or on other sites, for a refund, you must contact the agent at the place of purchase of the ticket.
