Russia / United Kingdom – Russia imposes reciprocal ban on UK-operated flights in its airspace.

On 25 February, Russia’s Federal Agency for Air Transport (FAVT, known as Rosaviatsiya) announced that from 1100 Moscow time (0800 UTC) on 25 February, it was implementing a restriction on the use of Russian airspace for aircraft “owned, leased or operated by a person associated with the UK or registered in the UK”, including flights to destinations within Russia as well as transit flights.

On 24 February, the UK issued a NOTAM stating that “no aircraft on a scheduled service which is owned, chartered or operated by a person connected with Russia or which is registered in Russia shall fly in UK airspace”. The NOTAM took effect at 0001 UTC on 25 February, and is valid until 1159 UTC on 23 May 2022 (EGTT B0473/22).

The number of the UK NOTAM is as follows: B0473/22 NOTAMN

In close coordination with Eurocontrol and the Commission, EASA published a second update to the Conflict Zone Information Bulletin published on February 24 2022.

This update extends the affected airspace to the whole of FIR Rostov. In addition, the buffer along the border with Ukraine inside FIR Moscow has been broadened to 200 NM (previously 100 NM). This extension reflects the operational reality and takes account of the assessed risk posed by the threat of missile launches to and from Ukraine.

Also, the European Council concluded in the evening of February 24 on further restrictive measures that will impose massive and severe consequences on Russia for its action. The sanctions cover the financial sector, the energy and transport sectors, dual-use goods as well as export control and export financing, visa policy, additional listings of Russian individuals and new listing criteria.

In response to the unfolding conflict targeting Ukraine, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency has published an update to the Conflict Zone Information Bulletin published earlier today (February 24, 2022).

This extends the affected airspace to include Flight Information Region of Chisinau (Moldova) and Minsk (Belarus). It further recommends that air operators exercise caution when operating in the whole Flight Information Region of Moscow and Rostov due to heightened military activity, which may include launches of mid-range missiles penetrating into controlled airspace

Based on information received by EUROCONTROL and EASA, Air operators are reminded that this is now an active conflict zone. Under these circumstances, the aforementioned airspace and critical infrastructure, including airports, are exposed to military activities which result in safety risks for civil aircraft. In particular, there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft. The presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a high risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels.

Operators should take this information and any other relevant information, along with any available guidance or directions from competent authorities, as appropriate, into account in their own risk assessments when deciding whether to operate within the aforementioned airspace and landing and departures from airports located in the affected airspace.

Additionally, as a precautionary measure, operators should exercise extreme caution and avoid using the airspace within 100NM of the Bielorussian and Russia-Ukraine border.

Operators can find additional information under the following NOTAM number: A1081/22 NOTAMN

For updates on the situation, please monitor the EUROCONTROL Network Operations Portal