The European Union Refuses To Open Its Skies To Russian Airlines

The statement follows Moscow's attempts to reach an agreement.

The European Union does not intend to provide access to its airspace for Russian airlines, a representative of the European Commission (the EU's executive body) told Politico on condition of anonymity. The statement follows Moscow's attempts to negotiate the resumption of air traffic with the United States as part of a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.

A source in the European Commission explained that without the participation of European countries, Russian airlines will not be able to fly to the United States, and the EU is not interested in this. First of all, the ban on Russian carriers flying in EU airspace, introduced in response to the invasion of Ukraine, has not been lifted. In addition, Europe has “serious questions” about the safety of Russian aircraft. “It is not known whether Russian air carriers and air services have been properly serviced over the past three years, which seriously calls into question the airworthiness of the Russian fleet,” the source emphasized.

As a result of the sanctions imposed against Russia in 2022, in addition to the closure of European skies, Russian companies have lost access to spare parts for aircraft from Western manufacturers (Boeing or Airbus). According to Sander Starreveld, director of the consulting company SIG Aviation, there is a “high probability” that counterfeit parts will be used on Russian airlines' aircraft. “Allowing these aircraft to operate for commercial purposes in Europe is not only unsafe, but also carries the risk of importing counterfeit parts into the Union,” he noted, adding that allowing aircraft from the Russian Federation will greatly burden the EU Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which will have to certify each aircraft. In addition, many Russian aircraft will most likely be seized immediately upon landing at European airports. The reason is the decision of the Russian authorities, taken after the introduction of EU sanctions, to effectively confiscate several hundred Western aircraft that were leased. According to RBC estimates, in 2023 and early 2024, Russia bought 165 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus, allocating money from the National Welfare Fund (about 40% of the total number of civilian airliners in Russia). Starreveld noted that Western leasing companies, who consider Moscow's actions to be theft of their property, “will try to return as many assets as possible.”

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