Rosaviatsia sees sanctions pressure in EU flight recommendations

Unfriendly countries are trying to inflict reputational and economic damage on RUSSIA and its civil aviation through the EU regulator , according to Rosaviatsia. Several airlines have reduced flights to Russia after the AZAL plane crash

The recommendation of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) for airlines from EU countries and other countries that operate flights to the territory of the European Union to refrain from flying to Russian cities west of 60 degrees east longitude (i.e. located in the European part of Russia) is a continuation of the policy of sanctions pressure on Russian civil aviation, the press service of Rosaviatsia told RBK.

In an updated guidance issued on January 9, EASA expanded the scope of its recommendations regarding the use of Russian airspace “to ensure maximum flight safety” in the context of the fighting in Ukraine .

The European regulator has recommended against flights within Russian airspace west of 60 degrees east longitude at all flight levels. The order applies to both European airlines and carriers from third countries certified for flights to EU countries.

The updated recommendations are valid until July 31, 2025 and are subject to adjustment, the release said.

The Russian agency also called EASA's position an attempt to reduce the number of flights by Asian airlines to EU airports using the Trans-Siberian route system. Thus, Rosaviatsia believes that the European regulator "is simply trying to regain a competitive advantage for its companies that was lost."

The department believes that unfriendly countries (the list of such countries compiled by the Russian government includes all EU members) are “using the hands of EASA” trying to inflict reputational and economic damage on Russia and its civil aviation.

As stated by the Federal Air Transport Agency, Russian civil aviation is “safe and in line with global trends,” and the flight safety management system of all key participants in the air transport system “is at the required level.”

"Flight routes in the European part of the Russian Federation have been developed taking into account all possible risks for aircraft. In the event of information about the introduction of restrictions in a certain flight information area and/or airport of the Russian Federation, air traffic control authorities immediately take measures to inform airspace users, as well as change flight routes," Rosaviatsia emphasized.

On December 25, an Azerbaijani airline AZAL plane flying from Baku to Grozny crashed near Aktau in Kazakhstan. There were 67 people on board, of whom 38 died.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev said that responsibility for the deaths of passengers and crew members lies with "representatives of the Russian Federation." Russian President Vladimir Putin apologized to Aliyev because "the tragic incident occurred in Russian airspace."

The plane, flying from Baku to Grozny, was attempting to land in Chechnya when the region was attacked by Ukrainian drones, and air defense systems were in operation, the Kremlin press service noted.

Following the plane crash, airlines from Kazakhstan, Israel, the UAE, Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan suspended some flights on Russian routes.

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