The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a warning to airlines against operating in western and central Russian airspace due to heightened risks from Russian air defense systems, particularly following increased military activities related to the Ukraine conflict.
The Conflict Zone Information Bulletin (CZIB) outlines concerns over civilian aircraft potentially being targeted, citing a recent crash involving an AZAL Azerbaijan Airlines plane that likely resulted from damage by air defense systems.
While EU airlines are prohibited from Russian airspace due to sanctions, non-EU carriers have responded to safety concerns by limiting flights to Russia, with several airlines suspending routes that overfly affected regions.
The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency criticized the EASA advisory as an unfair move to disadvantage Asian airlines utilizing Russian airspace, emphasizing escalating tensions between regulatory bodies regarding aviation safety and competitive practices.
