Russia considering closing airspace
 

No one has mentioned it here, but Russia is considering blocking airspace over Siberia, forcing foreign airlines to go around, at a cost of millions, on Europe-Asia destinations.
This, of course, in retaliation of the EU/USA sanctions.
It is clearly a no-win situation:ugh:

Won't happen. They need all the foreign overfly fees they can earn and this would be chopping off their nose to spite their face.

@CarbonBrakes:

Was mentioned here in this post:

http://www.pprune.org/8594761-post11.html

Tehran - the new east / west hub?

This geopolitical war is turning sour. I wonder what will be of us under Sino-Russian rule. Do they speak English? Aeroflot is hiring foreigners for the first time, just in case you want to fly domestic into the CIS.

So if Asia and Europe retaliate by not allowing Russian airlines to fly over them, where does that leave Russia?

Should improve slots...............:)

With Siberia closed (and nobody will want to get too near, remembering KE007) and with other airspace now considered dangerous after MH17, will there be renewed business for Anchorage?

Yesterday Nico Voorbach (ECA) said on Dutch TV that if Russia closes its airspace to European airlines, Russia would risk being kicked out of ICAO. That would be the end of Russian connection to the outside world.
I can provide you with the link where mr. Voorbach said this, but it is in Dutch...

http://www.eo.nl/tv/knevelenvandenbr...nk-e6bfe9e6ee/

I think he's talking out of his posterior. The EU line appears to be that Russia could legally close its airspace if it wished to:

"Helen Kearns, the spokeswoman for the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, said there had been no official information on this from Russian authorities.

Russia could legally close its airspace if it wanted to, according to the EU Commission. Currently, each EU country has a bilateral deal with Moscow on whether its airlines can fly over Russia."

Shares in European airlines drop after report claims Russia considering limiting airspace - Bridge River Lillooet News

So if Asia and Europe retaliate by not allowing Russian airlines to fly over them, where does that leave Russia?


Dont be confused - if this closure goes ahead it will be applicable to EU and Japanese airlines only. Rest of Asian and Middle East carriers will be allowed to continue as usual, no doubt this a great news for BA/AF/LH!

"No one has mentioned it here"

actually it has been mentioned...

KE/KAL, Asiana, would be unaffected then??

jolihokistix KE/KAL, Asiana, would be unaffected then??


My best guess is only the countries who supported/actioned the sanctions will be affected. I dont know what S Korea position is (never made a news in Europe) but very well could be KAL and Asiana not affected

Thanks CargoOne.

Is this sort of selective closure of airspace covered by ICAO and all the various treaties? Where is PPRuNe's former pilot become lawyer?

What part of "bilateral agreement" are you having trouble with?

already denied by Lavrov, Russia foreign minister. Obviosly they don't won't to play this trump card too early.
Still possible though if the EU will impose similar sanctions on Russia's top 5 airlines.

Normally I could give you chapter & verse, but I retired a month ago.

All this circus is behind me now, thank God

Quick world with our friends in the middle east to increase oil production driving down the price for a few months and Russia will be bankrupt and begging people to use it's airspace.

Big picture folks. It won't happen because there is a limit to what the west will put up with. You don't need to fire a shot to bring down a government these days. It's only the unenlightened that still do that.