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Ukraine invasion: Russian planes face near-total airspace ban to west Ukraine invasion: EU shuts airspace to Russian planes
(about 3 hours later)
Russian airlines face a near-total airspace blockade to the country's west after an EU official said most European countries are set to impose flight bans. All Russian-registered planes will be affected by the flight ban
A formal decision is expected on the measure later on Sunday. The EU has imposed a blanket flight ban on Russian planes, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced.
One by one, European countries said they were closing their airspace, including Germany for three months. "We are shutting down EU airspace for Russian-owned, Russian-registered or Russian-controlled aircraft," she said.
With airspace curbs over Ukraine, Russian flights now have few route options for westbound journeys. All such planes, including the private jets of oligarchs, will now be unable to land in, take off from or fly over any EU nation.
Russian planes have also been banned from UK airspace.
Ahead of the decision, European countries had been closing their airspace one by one. Germany said its ban would last three months.
Departure boards at Moscow's Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo airports showed dozens of cancellations on Sunday, including flights to Paris, Vienna and Kaliningrad.Departure boards at Moscow's Domodedovo and Sheremetyevo airports showed dozens of cancellations on Sunday, including flights to Paris, Vienna and Kaliningrad.
Russia's S7 Airlines said on Facebook it would cancel flights to many of its European destinations until at least 13 March.Russia's S7 Airlines said on Facebook it would cancel flights to many of its European destinations until at least 13 March.
Aeroflot, Russia's biggest airline, said it would cancel its services to Latvia and Romania until at least 26 March, and its Prague and Warsaw routes until 28 March.Aeroflot, Russia's biggest airline, said it would cancel its services to Latvia and Romania until at least 26 March, and its Prague and Warsaw routes until 28 March.
Meanwhile, Russia has responded with tit-for-tat restrictions on countries banning its flights. Russia has responded with tit-for-tat restrictions on countries banning its flights.
The Commission president said that the EU was also going to ban Russia's state-owned news outlets Sputnik and Russia Today, widely seen as a mouthpiece for the Kremlin. "We are developing tools to ban their toxic and harmful disinformation in Europe," she said.
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Russian-owned planes, including private jets, can no longer enter the skies above the Baltic states, Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia. Russian planes have also been banned from UK airspace. The restrictions on flights will require Russian airlines to take circuitous routes, resulting in longer flight times.
Several more EU countries have now joined the action to close airspace to Russian flights:
Germany has imposed a three-month ban
Spain, France, Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy will also close their airspace to Russian aircraft
Finland, which shares an 800 mile (1,300km) border with Russia, "is preparing to close its airspace to Russian air traffic," Transport Minister Timo Harakka wrote on Twitter
Belgium's Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said European skies were "open for those who connect people, not for those who seek to brutally aggress"
Ireland and Austria have thrown their weight behind an EU-wide ban.
The restriction on flights over many of the countries to Russia's west will require its airlines to take circuitous routes, resulting in longer flight times.
Finland's decision may leave the Gulf of Finland - around 74 miles (120km) wide at its broadest point - as the only viable passage for Russian planes travelling to European countries that have yet to ban flights.
Commercial airlines are also avoiding airspace around Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus following Russia's invasion.Commercial airlines are also avoiding airspace around Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus following Russia's invasion.
In the United States, Delta Air Lines said it would suspend a flight booking agreement with Russia's Aeroflot. In the US, Delta Air Lines said it would suspend a flight booking agreement with Russia's Aeroflot.
The UK's ban on Russian flights led Moscow to retaliate with a similar curb on British planes.The UK's ban on Russian flights led Moscow to retaliate with a similar curb on British planes.
Virgin Atlantic said avoiding Russia would add between 15 minutes and an hour to its flights between the UK and India and Pakistan.Virgin Atlantic said avoiding Russia would add between 15 minutes and an hour to its flights between the UK and India and Pakistan.
Australian airline Qantas said it would use a longer route for its direct flight between Darwin and London that does not overfly Russia.Australian airline Qantas said it would use a longer route for its direct flight between Darwin and London that does not overfly Russia.
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