Airlines and passengers that still fly over Russia have been warned that the skies are “completely unsafe” by the president of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky deemed Russian airspace to be unsafe in a warning to airlines ahead of Ukrainian drone attacks last Tuesday.
“We want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, and everyone who still uses Russia’s key airports: Russian airspace is becoming completely unsafe,” he said.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in spring 2022, most major Western carriers have suspended operations over Russia, rerouting journeys around its airspace.
The airspace is currently closed to around 35 countries and territories in retaliation for banning all Russian aircraft from using EU airspace, among other international restrictions.
Ukraine has also kept its own airspace closed to civilian aviation since the start of the conflict.
However, some airlines – mainly Chinese, Turkish and Gulf state carriers – still operate flights passing through or to destinations in Russia.
Russian airlines, such as Aeroflot and Jetica, continue to operate some international journeys.
According to Qatar Airways, an airline that flies into Moscow, “flight planning and operational decisions are guided by rigorous and continuous monitoring of airspace security, safety assessments, and geopolitical developments, in close coordination with the relevant authorities”.
The airline said: “We continuously assess all available information and will adapt our operations as necessary.”
Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs, Andrii Sybiha, said on X that Ukraine had officially notified the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) of the risk to civil aviation in Russian airspace to prevent “unintended incidents”.
On Tuesday, ICAO reiterated its calls for stronger commitments from all Member States to protect civilian aircraft from all risks arising from conflict zones.
Flightradar24 data showed some delays Monday at Moscow’s main airport, Sheremetyevo International, and St. Petersburg Pulkovo airport.
ICAO said: “ICAO is observing heightened risks of civil aircraft being targeted or caught in crossfire, and while the aviation industry is able to reroute flights and maintain operations during conflicts, this operational flexibility does not address the fundamental security threat.”
Here are the airlines with scheduled flights that use Russian airspace.
Read more: Ukraine-Russia war latest
Which airlines are still flying in Russian airspace?
Asia and the Middle East
- Air Arabia (UAE)
- Air China (China)
- Air India (India)
- China Eastern Airlines (China)
- China Southern Airlines (China)
- Emirates Airlines (UAE)
- Etihad Airways (UAE)
- FlyDubai (UAE)
- Flyone Armenia (Armenia)
- Georgian Airways (Georgia)
- Hainan Airlines (China)
- Iraqi Airways (Iraq)
- Mahan Air (Iran)
- Oman Air (Oman)
- Qanot Sharq (Uzbekistan)
- Qatar Airways (Qatar)
- SCAT Airlines (Kazakhstan)
- Shirak Avia (Armenia)
- Somon Air (Tajikistan)
- Syrian Air (Syria)
- Uzbekistan Airways (Uzbekistan)
Africa
- Air Algérie (Algeria)
- EgyptAir (Egypt)
- Ethiopian Airlines (Ethiopia)
- Nouvelair (Tunisia)
- Royal Air Maroc (Morocco)
Europe
- Air Serbia (Serbia)
- Belavia (Belarus)
- Pegasus Airlines (Turkey) – the airline confirmed that flights to Russia “from 2 September onwards are operating as scheduled” following overnight cancellations on 1 September
- Turkish Airlines (Turkey)
Read more: What Zelensky’s threat to Russian airspace means for the future of war and air travel