The decision by the Biden administration to restrict Russian flights from flying in American airspace will further isolate Russia, as Western governments degrade Russia’s aviation infrastructure and make it difficult for it to access the component of its fleet that is owned by other countries.
In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, President Biden declared Tuesday during his State of the Union speech that the US will join Canada and many European nations in blocking Russia’s access to the global aviation network.
The prohibition will take effect by the end of Wednesday, according to federal transportation officials.
“Tonight, I am announcing that we will join our allies in closing off American airspace to all Russian flights, further isolating Russia and adding an additional squeeze on their economy,” Biden said.
As a result of the limitations, more than 100 flights into and out of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport have been cancelled this week.
The latest measures, which were announced on Tuesday, are part of a larger package of Western measures that may severely stifle Russia’s commercial aviation industry.
On several fronts, worldwide sanctions are aimed at Russian aviation. Airspace closures, which severely limit where Russian state carrier Aeroflot and private planes from the country can operate, are the most immediate measures.
Sanctions and export limits also jeopardize Russia’s access to spare aviation parts, as well as the hundreds of leased planes that make up almost half of the country’s commercial fleet.
In exchange, Russia has barred its airspace to European aircraft, effectively limiting certain carriers’ flights to Asia and perhaps delaying the restoration of international travel as the airline sector recovers from the coronavirus outbreak.
To read our blog on “FIFA and UEFA ban Russia from participating in any of their competitions,” click here.
