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Could Russia Create a Bigger Aviation Problem for U.S. Carriers?

With war raging on in Ukraine causing significant disruption in air routes, airlines are starting to wonder if Russia will become a much bigger problem over the long term.
It has been over a year since Russia invaded Ukraine, causing the United States and Russia to mutually close their airspace to one another.  

 

Airlines are now starting to wonder if the ongoing war will create even more problems for air travel in the future. The question was one of many addressed at the 79th International Air Transport Association Annual General Meeting in Istanbul.

 

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Prior to the Russo-Ukrainian war, airlines would regularly fly over Russia to connect the United States and Europe to central and southern Asia. Flights flying west from the United States would go over the northeast corner of Russia, while those flying east from Europe would fly over the populated western portion of the nation.

 

But since the invasion began, western carriers have avoided going over Russia after the country closed their airspace. In turn, airlines are adding hundreds of miles to their routes to stay out of Russian territory, frustrating air carriers.

 

The problem is that not all carriers have to agree to the regulations. Chinese carriers like Air China and China Eastern are still going to Europe via Russia, which the western carriers says creates an uneven playing field.

 

“It’s clearly a big impact to us,” United Airlines chief executive Scott Kirby told Reuters at the IATA Annual General Meeting, speaking specifically about flights between the U.S. and India. “Now we fly one and it’s an extra two hours…that’s disappointing.”

 

“We want that airlines which have the right to fly to France or the Netherlands respect the same regulations as us,” Air France-KLM CEO Benjamin Smith told AFP from the meeting. He added that the additional miles cost more in fuel and manpower, while they felt they were getting “squeezed out” of the Russian routes.

 

The major airlines aren’t the only ones to feel the pressure. Northern Pacific Airways, which planned to launch a low-cost option between the United States and Asia via Alaska, is now changing its plans to start business from the U.S. to Mexico via Las Vegas according to Business Insider.

 

In the meantime, IATA is staying out of the discussion for now. Instead, they are taking a neutral position on the issue by calling for a peaceful resolution for all situations.

 

“We would like to have Russian airspace open to everybody,” IATA director general Willie Walsh told AFP. “”We would prefer to see everybody be in a position to be able to compete equally, but that is a political decision that can only be addressed once peace returns.”

9 Comments
A
AllanJ July 19, 2023

Wasn't there a civilian jet accidentally shot down by the Russians over their airspace not too long ago?

The Russians have always been defensive about their airspace, ever since a U.S. "U2" spy plane was shot down some 60 plus years ago. In the interests of safety, it would be wise to stay clear of Russion airspace unless absolutely necessary such as traveling to or from Russia.

G
GrayAnderson June 11, 2023

“We would like to have Russian airspace open to everybody,” IATA director general Willie Walsh told AFP. “”We would prefer to see everybody be in a position to be able to compete equally, but that is a political decision that can only be addressed once peace returns.”
Yeah, Willie, and if ifs and buts were candy and nuts...

C
c1ue June 8, 2023

This article is inaccurate.
The Western countries closed their airspace to Russia as part of sanctions packages on February 27, 2022: https://www.rferl.org/a/european-union-closing-airspace-russian-airlines/31726709.html
Russia closed its airspace in response 1 day later:
https://www.politico.eu/article/5-things-eu-russia-sanction-aviation/

B
binman June 8, 2023

In the meantime, IATA is staying out of the discussion for now. Instead, they are taking a neutral position on the issue by calling for a peaceful resolution for all situations. With Willie Walsh at the helm fence sitting will become an art form. How utterly predictable.

M
mogi67 June 7, 2023

"Now we fly one and it’s an extra two hours…that’s disappointing.”

Poor kirby