Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and airspace restrictions pose huge challenges to international aviation as hundreds of flights that operated to fly over Russian air space now have to opt for alternative routes, leading to a growth in operating prices due to more fuel burn.
The sector faces a dual whammy as ATF costs are also rising due to soaring crude costs. Ukraine has been shut to civilian flights since February 24 after Russia escalated military advances in the nation.
Russian aircraft from American airspace
After Moscow’s charge of Ukraine, the European Union, Canada has shut its airspace to Russian aircraft. The US too has also refused Russian aircraft from American airspace.
In line with international giants imposing sanctions against Russia, Boeing and Airbus have also stopped maintenance help to the Russian fleet.
Do remember that Russian flag carrier Aeroflot, which flies to 146 destinations worldwide, has a mixed fleet of Airbus and Boeing aircraft. Russia has also retaliated to the flight ban and has shut its air space to around 40 nations.
Why is Russian airspace important?
The Russian airspace has a special benefit due to geography as it provides a crucial Asia-Europe corridor to save fuel prices. The direct impact is that globally there is caution among airlines due to the conflict zone as in the history we have seen the MH14 happening were in a missile shot down Malaysia Airlines passenger aircraft MH17 in Ukraine airspace in 2014 during the then-ongoing conflict.
There are concerns over longer routes, extra fuel for airlines, move on cargo traffic as international supply-chain is established to be hit, Flight cancellations, and the growth in usage of alternative routes such as Kazakhstan’s airspace use has been tripled.
Virgin Atlantic UK-Asia flights
For some airlines, the impact is more severe such as Finland’s Fin Air’s core business model is founded on shorter routes via Russian air space, after the prohibition, the airline says most Asia flights are now neither financially sustainable nor competitive. For Virgin Atlantic UK-Asia flights are to become extended by 15-60 min.
Also, read
- The U.S government bans Russian flights from American airspace
- Russia -Ukraine war: Russia removes US, UK, Japan flags from rocket but keeps Indian flag
- How will India’s largest airline, IndiGo, manage the current challenges?
Some countries resume using Russian air space including India, Indian airline Air India operates Russian air space for flights to the US, Paris, Frankfurt. Understanding the air space a bit more Air India which flies to New York via Russia completes the journey in 14:28 hours whereas American Airlines which uses an alternative route takes 15:49 hours.
For Frankfurt to Seoul, Lufthansa operated to take 9:50 hrs via Russia and now the detour is taking 11:44 minutes, similarly for Aeroflot- (before conflict) Moscow to Cairo was 4:23 min and after conflict)- 5:50 min.
Moving along, airlines are hoping the working prices to increase and the ATF hike could erode recovery. Jet fuel costs in India have already risen by 3 percent on Mar 1 to Rs 93,530 per kg, the fifth hike this year.
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