Russia threatens to close airspace to western airlines

Tuesday, 09 Sep, 2014 0

Airlines face the threat of being barred from Russian airspace after the country’s prime minister said it may ban Western carriers from flying over its territory.

Dmitry Medvedev said Russia may decide to allow only the airlines of ‘friendly’ countries to fly into its airspace in response to new EU sanctions over the crisis in Ukraine.

"If there are sanctions related to the energy sector, or further restrictions on Russia’s financial sector, we will have to respond asymmetrically," he told Russian daily Vedomosti.

"If Western carriers have to bypass our airspace, this could drive many struggling airlines into bankruptcy. This is not the way to go.

"We just hope our partners realise this at some point."

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Linsey McNeill

Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk

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