This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60539303
The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Ukraine invasion: Russian planes face near-total airspace ban to west | Ukraine invasion: Russian planes face near-total airspace ban to west |
| (32 minutes 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. | 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. |
| A formal decision is expected on the measure later on Sunday. | |
| Several countries have already acted, followed by Germany and Belgium, while other EU states are set to join them. | |
| With airspace curbs over Ukraine, Russian flights now have few route options for westbound journeys. | With airspace curbs over Ukraine, Russian flights now have few route options for westbound journeys. |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Is Russia's invasion going as expected? | Is Russia's invasion going as expected? |
| Zelensky: A president rising to the moment | Zelensky: A president rising to the moment |
| Miles of queues at borders to flee invasion | Miles of queues at borders to flee invasion |
| 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. | |
| Several more EU countries have now joined the action to close airspace to Russian flights: | |
| Germany is imposing a three-month ban from 15:00 (14:00 GMT) on Sunday | |
| 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". | |
| Denmark's foreign minister Jeppe Kofod said on Twitter that his country would close its airspace and push for an EU-wide ban | |
| Austrian minister Leonore Gewessler said it was also backing an EU-wide ban. | |
| More EU countries are expected to announce bans on Russian airlines in their airspace on Sunday | More EU countries are expected to announce bans on Russian airlines in their airspace on Sunday |
| 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. | 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. | 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 United States, 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. |
| Russia attacks Ukraine: More coverage | Russia attacks Ukraine: More coverage |
| LIVE: Latest updates from on the ground | LIVE: Latest updates from on the ground |
| THE BASICS: Why is Putin invading Ukraine? | THE BASICS: Why is Putin invading Ukraine? |
| ZELENSKY: Comedian president rises to the moment | ZELENSKY: Comedian president rises to the moment |
| DNIPRO: Terrified residents jolt into action | DNIPRO: Terrified residents jolt into action |
| PHOTOS: Ordinary lives turned upside down | PHOTOS: Ordinary lives turned upside down |