Russia’s international aviation isolation is gaining momentum. According to our sources, the management of the airline Air Arabia is considering the possibility of completely stopping flights to Russian cities due to concerns about passenger safety against the backdrop of critical reports about the situation in the airspace of the Russian Federation. Previously, the company canceled flights to the Russian cities of Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Ufa, Samara, and from Ras Al-Khaimah.
Earlier, an analogous decision to completely cancel flights to Russia was taken by Israel’s national air carrier, the company El Al, which urgently canceled all scheduled flights to Moscow until the end of June. This step became a logical response to the sharp escalation of the situation surrounding the safety of using the airspace of the Russian Federation and the latest evidence of the deep isolation of the Russian aviation sector.
ICAO declares: the sky over the RF is a high-risk zone
The actions of international carriers have become a direct consequence of recent statements by ICAO, which recognized the policy of the Russian authorities as a direct threat to flight safety. During a discussion on June 22 regarding the decisions of the 42nd ICAO Assembly and resolutions concerning gross violations of the Chicago Convention by Russia, the world community stated the existence of a critical threat.
It was officially declared: the use by Russia of military aviation, air defense systems (PVO), and missile weaponry during the aggressive war against Ukraine creates significant risks for international civil aviation. The participants of the discussion paid special attention to systemic interference with GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) signals, which Russia creates for its own interests. Such “irresponsible activity,” in the opinion of experts, undermines the foundations of international security and the protection of aviation.
The meeting was held at a high level: it was attended by EU representatives to ICAO Delphine Michaud-Nodet, delegates from European states — members of the ICAO Council, Acting Representative of the USA to ICAO Anthony Kler, Permanent Representatives of Turkey and the UAE (Second Vice-President of the ICAO Council Saeed Mohammed Al Suwaidi), as well as the Ambassador of Ukraine to Canada Andrii Plakhotniuk. The participants emphasized the importance of ensuring full accountability of the Russian Federation for actions that jeopardize civilian flights.
The decision of El Al and the preparation for an analogous step by Air Arabia is only the beginning of the aviation collapse of international air travel for Russia. Airlines all over the world, for whom safety is an absolute priority, are carefully studying ICAO reports and revising their strategies. Experts agree that the number of international carriers stopping flights to Russian cities will only grow.
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