Ukraine has intensified pressure on Russia, trying to compel foreign airlines to abandon flights in Russian airspace. This is stated in a publication by the German newspaper Handelsblatt, which analyzes the potential consequences of the warning issued by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The publication reminds that on September 1, Zelensky urged airlines not to use Russian airspace due to the extensive use of drones by Ukraine. The Ukrainian side plans to significantly increase the intensity of strikes: according to the president, the number of drones used daily against Russia is expected to rise from approximately 300 to 1,000. "We want to warn every airline using Russian airspace, every insurer, everyone still using important Russian airports: Russian skies will become completely dangerous," Zelensky stated in a video address. Shortly after this, some airlines began to adjust their routes. In particular, flights by Pegasus Airlines heading to Moscow were turned back, and Flydubai changed its flight plan. Meanwhile, the Russian aviation authority temporarily restricted night operations at Moscow airports Domodedovo, Vnukovo, and Sheremetyevo. At the same time, as noted by Handelsblatt, most carriers are not yet ready to completely abandon flights over Russia. Since February 2022, airlines such as IAG, Air France-KLM, and Lufthansa have been forced to bypass Russian airspace on routes to Asia. However, Qatar Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, and several Chinese carriers continue to use direct routes. This gives them economic advantages as it reduces fuel costs and flight duration. This is why, the author of the publication notes, abandoning Russian airspace could be a serious commercial decision for such companies. Qatar Airways stated that they are constantly assessing the situation and will adjust their operations as necessary. Emirates, Etihad Airways, and Turkish Airlines did not respond directly to Handelsblatt's inquiry. Meanwhile, some carriers are warning passengers about potential delays and individual flight cancellations due to drone attacks. The Russian Ministry of Transport and aviation authorities denied the assessments made by the Ukrainian side. They stated that foreign airlines were provided with information about safety measures in Russian airspace. However, as mentioned in the publication, the risks for civil aviation are not limited to the potential collision of an aircraft with a drone. Perhaps the main danger actually comes from the actions of Russian air defense. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has long been drawing attention to this issue, specifically mentioning the downing of an Azerbaijan Airlines plane by Chechen air defense in December 2024. Additional risks were also pointed out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). According to its assessment, passenger aircraft may be threatened by long-range weapons, drones, radio jamming, and air defense systems, reports the UNIAN news agency.
