Airspace Curbs on Russia

March 1, 2022

Recently, jurisdictions have started blockading their airspace to aircraft operated or registered by Russia, in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Key Points

Use of airspace has become a crucial tool by countries to affirm their take in geopolitical conflicts.
In 2019, Pakistan closed its airspace to India, following Balakot air strikes.
In 2021, European nations closed flights from Belarus, after it forced a plane to land to arrest a dissenting journalist.
Ukraine had closed its airspace for Russia in 2015.
Apart from Ukraine, 29 countries have issued Notice to Air Missions (NOTAMs), and disallowed the use of their airspace to Russian planes.

Which countries have closed their airspace for Russia?

According to information from Flightradar24, the UK, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Romania, Poland, Slovenia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Italy, Germany, Austria, Iceland, Malta, the Netherlands, Canada, Denmark, Croatia, Luxembourg, France, Albania, Hungary, Cyprus, Spain, Ireland, Belgium, Greece, Portugal, and Sweden have closed their airspace for Russia. It means that, flights being operated by Russian airlines or Russia-registered private jets will require to undertake considerably lengthy detours to fly out of the country.

How has Russia responded?

In response, Russia has also closed its airspace to carriers from 36 nations, including Canada and European countries.

Russian invasion of Ukraine

In the Russian invasion of Ukraine, more than 350 civilians have been killed so far. As per latest satellite images, 40-mile-long convoy is heading to Kyiv. Ukraine maintains that, their goal for the talks was an immediate ceasefire. On the other hand, Russia President Vladimir Putin has put its nuclear deterrent forces in a “special regime of combat duty”. Several nations like the US, Germany, Canada and Australia have decided to send military support to Ukraine.

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