European countries are closing their airspace to the Russians one by one

• Germany launches the ball this Sunday on the subject of overflights of territories. The German Ministry of Transport has issued a flight ban for Russian aircraft and aircraft operators in German airspace » from 2 p.m. (universal time). Berlin clarified that this ban was valid for three months, but did not concern any humanitarian flights.

• France also closes its airspace to all Russian planes and companies. After seeming to hesitate, Paris finally announced a similar measure in Berlin in the middle of the day: “ France closes its airspace to all Russian planes and companies from this (Sunday) evening. To the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Europe responds with total unity “, underlined the French Minister Delegate for Transport, Jean-Baptiste Djebbari, on Twitter.

• “ In Europe, the skies are open to those who connect people », Believes the Belgian Prime Minister. Same decision from Ireland, Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Malta, Austria and North Macedonia. ” In Europe, the skies are open (…) to those who connect people, not to those who commit brutal aggression “, justified on Twitter the Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.

The government of Luxembourg, a major platform for cargo planes and the transport of freight in Europe, also indicated ” prepare the necessary notifications to close » its airspace to Russian companies as of Sunday.

• Neighboring countries close their airspace. In northern Europe, Finland, which has a border of more than 1,300 kilometers with Russia, but also Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland also announced such measures on Sunday. These countries join in particular Poland, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Moldova and the United Kingdom.

The three Baltic countries, also bordering Russia, had decided on Saturday to close their airspace to Russian planes.

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• The EU closes its airspace to Russian planes. The European Union will close all of its airspace to all Russian aircraft, including private jets of the oligarchs “Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sunday. ” We propose to ban all aircraft owned by Russians, registered in Russia or controlled by Russian interests. They will no longer be able to land, take off or fly over EU territory “said the head of the European executive.

• Canada closes its airspace “ to all Russian aircraft operators “. Canada closes its airspace to all Russian aircraft operators in response to the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin’s troops, Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced on Twitter on Sunday.

The second largest country on the planet, after Russia, Canada thus joins the vast majority of European states. There is currently no direct connection between Canadian and Russian airports, but this decision may greatly complicate flights operated by the Russian company Aeroflot between Russia and the United States, and other American countries, via Canadian skies. .

• Air France suspends “ service and overflight of Russia “. On the airline side, in unison with a growing number of Western companies, Lufthansa – the leading European group with the Lufthansa, Condor, Swiss, Brussel Airlines brands – decided on Saturday to suspend its flights to and over Russia. for a week, saying he anticipates retaliatory measures from Moscow.

Air France announced this Sunday a similar decision, temporarily. The group will no longer provide connections to Moscow and Saint Petersburg until further notice. given the situation in the region “said a spokesperson. As a result, the airline is also suspending flights to and from China, Korea and Japan, ” time to study flight plan options to avoid Russian airspace “.

With agencies