US inteference in foreign flights?
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US inteference in foreign flights?
The mind boggles. Is this a first? What about Emirates transiting through Russian airspace?
https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/138...iran-sanctions
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/ba...flight-3564681
https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/138...iran-sanctions
https://www.thedailystar.net/news/ba...flight-3564681
Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BG, Dhaka) is under pressure from the United States after announcing it was launching direct flights between Dhaka and Rome Fiumicino as its planned route involved transiting Iranian airspace.
“The US is not allowing us to pay Iran for overflying charges on the grounds of its sanctions on the country. If we cannot pay overflying charges to Iran, it will not allow us to overfly,” Bangladesh's Daily Star newspaper reported citing company officials who wanted to remain anonymous.
“The US is not allowing us to pay Iran for overflying charges on the grounds of its sanctions on the country. If we cannot pay overflying charges to Iran, it will not allow us to overfly,” Bangladesh's Daily Star newspaper reported citing company officials who wanted to remain anonymous.
First, maybe - probably not last. And Emirates (and Chinese airlines) may well get the same treatment soon, for paying Russian (or Iranian) fees in violation of the economic sanctions there.
Partly pressure from US airlines that ARE obeying the sanctions, and therefore at a competitive disadvantage (longer (and more expensive) routes, fewer flights, and lower pax load factors to allow the longer flight routes when circumventing the sanctioned countries' airspace).
I.E. If the U.S. airlines are taking a hit from sanctions - shouldn't everyone? Shared effort?
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/17/u...s-ukraine.html
If that is paywalled, the lead is:
Personally, if I were Biman, I would be at least as worried about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrain...nes_Flight_752
Partly pressure from US airlines that ARE obeying the sanctions, and therefore at a competitive disadvantage (longer (and more expensive) routes, fewer flights, and lower pax load factors to allow the longer flight routes when circumventing the sanctioned countries' airspace).
I.E. If the U.S. airlines are taking a hit from sanctions - shouldn't everyone? Shared effort?
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/17/u...s-ukraine.html
If that is paywalled, the lead is:
Banned From Russian Airspace, U.S. Airlines Look to Restrict Competitors
Because of the war in Ukraine, U.S. carriers have to take the long way on flights to and from Asia, giving an advantage to foreign rivals flying the same routes.
By Kate Kelly and Mark Walker
Published March 17, 2023
Updated March 18, 2023
WASHINGTON — Unable to fly through Russian airspace because of the war in Ukraine, U.S. airlines are stepping up a lobbying campaign on Capitol Hill and at the White House to address what they say is a growing problem: They are losing business to foreign competitors who can take passengers between the United States and Asia faster and more cheaply.
Effectively banned from the polar routes that save time and fuel between the United States and an array of destinations on the other side of the world, U.S. carriers say they are being forced into an aeronautical version of Twister to get passengers where they want to go without taking undue risks.
They have altered trans-Pacific flight plans to ensure they would have somewhere to land in an emergency, reduced passenger and cargo loads to hold down costs as they fly longer distances, and put on hold more than a dozen planned new routes to Mumbai, Tokyo, Seoul and other cities.
Those flights were already operating with dozens of the seats deliberately left unfilled, the person added, because less weight on board was required to make the fuel last as long as possible.
Yet many foreign airlines are not banned from flying over Russia, U.S. airlines and their lobbyists say — and are winning more passengers on routes to and from the United States as a result. Continued access to the shorter and more fuel-efficient routes that Russian airspace provides is giving carriers like Air India, Emirates and China Eastern Airlines an unfair advantage, the industry lobbying group Airlines for America said in a recent presentation on Capitol Hill......
Because of the war in Ukraine, U.S. carriers have to take the long way on flights to and from Asia, giving an advantage to foreign rivals flying the same routes.
By Kate Kelly and Mark Walker
Published March 17, 2023
Updated March 18, 2023
WASHINGTON — Unable to fly through Russian airspace because of the war in Ukraine, U.S. airlines are stepping up a lobbying campaign on Capitol Hill and at the White House to address what they say is a growing problem: They are losing business to foreign competitors who can take passengers between the United States and Asia faster and more cheaply.
Effectively banned from the polar routes that save time and fuel between the United States and an array of destinations on the other side of the world, U.S. carriers say they are being forced into an aeronautical version of Twister to get passengers where they want to go without taking undue risks.
They have altered trans-Pacific flight plans to ensure they would have somewhere to land in an emergency, reduced passenger and cargo loads to hold down costs as they fly longer distances, and put on hold more than a dozen planned new routes to Mumbai, Tokyo, Seoul and other cities.
Those flights were already operating with dozens of the seats deliberately left unfilled, the person added, because less weight on board was required to make the fuel last as long as possible.
Yet many foreign airlines are not banned from flying over Russia, U.S. airlines and their lobbyists say — and are winning more passengers on routes to and from the United States as a result. Continued access to the shorter and more fuel-efficient routes that Russian airspace provides is giving carriers like Air India, Emirates and China Eastern Airlines an unfair advantage, the industry lobbying group Airlines for America said in a recent presentation on Capitol Hill......
First, maybe - probably not last. And Emirates (and Chinese airlines) may well get the same treatment soon, for paying Russian (or Iranian) fees in violation of the economic sanctions there.
Partly pressure from US airlines that ARE obeying the sanctions, and therefore at a competitive disadvantage (longer (and more expensive) routes, fewer flights, and lower pax load factors to allow the longer flight routes when circumventing the sanctioned countries' airspace).
Partly pressure from US airlines that ARE obeying the sanctions, and therefore at a competitive disadvantage (longer (and more expensive) routes, fewer flights, and lower pax load factors to allow the longer flight routes when circumventing the sanctioned countries' airspace).
If the USA wishes to impose sanctions on Russia, Iran, North Korea etc., that is their prerogative. I happen to think that they are fully justified in doing so. But, I cannot agree that they are entitled to try & enforce other countries to do likewise. The USA simply has to accept that, despite it occupying the moral high ground, other countries are independent entities, which have their own policies as regards Russia etc. - disappointing as that may be. I can go along with them banning Bangladesh Birman from the USA, but cannot see what allows them to try & ban such airlines from operating to & from, or through the airspace of, sanctioned countries.
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If the USA wishes to impose sanctions on Russia, Iran, North Korea etc., that is their prerogative. I happen to think that they are fully justified in doing so. But, I cannot agree that they are entitled to try & enforce other countries to do likewise. The USA simply has to accept that, despite it occupying the moral high ground, other countries are independent entities, which have their own policies as regards Russia etc. - disappointing as that may be. I can go along with them banning Bangladesh Birman from the USA, but cannot see what allows them to try & ban such airlines from operating to & from, or through the airspace of, sanctioned countries.
They worked against South Africa, over time, as tne US reluctantly joined and both enforced the existing sanctions but also ensured that the sanctions breakers suffered penalties.
Of course, as you pointed out, "new opportunities" arise and are exploited,
The legalistic framework within which the different sanctions operate as well as the scope - some sanctions operate on companies, some on individuals means that its a game of whack-a-mole and the results may be moot
i.e. Shell company RussinCo papwerwork headquartered in Dubai buys a sanctioned product in France, ships it ( via unsanctioned shipper) to Ghana, where it changes hands ( and ships) to Madagascar .... you get the idea.
Now, each one of the individual known entities facilitating the transfer can themselves face repercussions, but the main company responsible, even if sanctioned, may simply fold up shop and reopen under a new name/nationality
But the 'chilling factor' is particularly important as the THREAT of sanctions take many potential actors off the board, as they dont want to be caught up in the quagmire and be sanctioned themselves
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Personally, if I were Biman, I would be at least as worried about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrain...nes_Flight_752
There is a general atmosphere that the USA wants to dominate the world yet are happily buying their clothes and consumer goods from the cheap labour in Asia. It’s hard to understand European politics from here for politicians and governments and I doubt they want to get involved after Vietnam.
Thailand is full of Russians and flights from the the region.
Pretty much the whole of Asia is run by quasi dictators.That doesn’t stop tourists coming and airline’s flying here.
Those countries that congratulated Mr P on his re election, included China and India, particularly India and Pak that overfly to reach the US, and Canada. They occasionally route eastwards to east and west US. Eastbound from the US, AI uses the jet stream.
India needs coal from the North, China needs oil.
India needs coal from the North, China needs oil.
In the case of, just for argument's sake, a total thermonuclear ICBM exchange, are there going to be overflight fees assessed? What about penalties for landing off-airport? Is there a penalty for failure to declare at the customs office?
Many questions arise about traversing some nation's airspace with sub-orbital deliveries.
Many questions arise about traversing some nation's airspace with sub-orbital deliveries.
Not sure how this unilateral US imposed sanction works as there doesn’t seem to be much consistency in its application.
Personally, if I were Biman, I would be at least as worried about https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrain...nes_Flight_752