EU to Sanction Foreign Airlines Operating Domestic Flights in Russia
The sanctions focus on sectors of systemic importance to the Russian economy.
The European Commission will impose penalties on foreign airlines conducting domestic flights within Russia, following the adoption of a new sanctions package by the EU Council against the country.
This latest set of measures aims to increase pressure on Russia while reaffirming the European Union’s unwavering commitment to a just and lasting peace for Ukraine.
Targeting Key Sectors of the Russian Economy
The sanctions package targets critical sectors of the Russian economy, including energy, trade, transportation, infrastructure, and financial services. Additionally, it introduces new measures to combat sanction evasion, according to aviation news outlet Aeroin.
To further minimize the risk of circumvention, some provisions have also been incorporated into the EU's sanctions regime against Belarus.
At the same time, the EU has updated and reinforced its sanctions related to Crimea and Sevastopol, as well as non-government-controlled areas in the provinces of Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia.
Expanded Flight Restrictions
The package further extends the EU's flight ban, allowing restrictions on third-party carriers operating domestic flights within Russia or supplying aircraft-related products to Russian airlines. If listed under these sanctions, such airlines will be prohibited from operating flights to the EU.
Recently, Russia has taken steps to allow foreign airlines to operate domestic routes, in an effort to meet internal demand while gradually working toward self-sufficiency in domestic aircraft production.
Qatar, Kazakhstan, India, and Kuwait have been invited to bring their airlines into Russia for domestic operations. However, no agreements have been reached so far. With the latest sanctions, it is unlikely that major airlines such as Air Astana, Air India, Qatar Airways, and Kuwait Airways will move forward with these plans—especially as they would face bans on serving European destinations, a key part of their current networks.
Comentarios
Para comentar, debés estar registrado
Por favor, iniciá sesión