British Airways cancels Moscow flights as Russia retaliates over Aeroflot ban
By Mark
Thompson, CNN Business
Updated 1332 GMT (2132 HKT) February 25, 2022
The British Airways livery on the tail fins of passenger aircraft at
Heathrow Airport in London, UK, on Feb. 23, 2022.
London (CNN Business)British Airways
has suspended its flights to Moscow after Russia banned all UK carriers from
its airspace.
Russia's Federal Agency for Air Transport said in a statement Friday
that it was banning UK registered flights, as well as aircraft owned, leased or
operated by a person associated with the United Kingdom, from transiting the
country's airspace.
The Russian agency said the measure was taken in response to the
decision by the UK government Thursday to ban Aeroflot and other Russian
airlines from British airspace. That was part of a package of sanctions announced
by Prime Minister Boris Johnson after Russia invaded Ukraine.
"We apologize for the inconvenience but this is clearly a matter
beyond our control," British Airways said in a statement. "We are
notifying customers on canceled services and are offering a full refund."
BA was flying three times a week to Moscow. It said it would also have
to reroute some services to Asia, potentially causing longer flight times.
Russia's flag carrier Aeroflot had been operating direct flights
between Moscow and London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports, according to its
website.
"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 United Kingdom airspace," the UK Department for Transport
said in a bulletin. The restrictions went into effect at midnight, and are due
to expire on May 23.
English Premier League soccer club Manchester United said Friday it was
dropping Aeroflot as a sponsor.
Russia's attack has already forced the closure of Ukrainian airspace,
and the fallout from the crisis will lead more carriers to reroute flights,
adding to costs at a time of rising fuel prices.
"On Thursday evening, we took the decision to start avoiding
Russian airspace and our flight paths will continue to be adjusted for some
Virgin Atlantic passenger services between the UK, Pakistan and India," a
Virgin Atlantic spokesperson said. " We apologize for any inconvenience
caused to customers by slightly longer flight times."
Virgin Atlantic is also suspending cargo flights between London and
Shanghai while it considers rerouting those services.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency said Ukraine's skies and
airspace in Russia and Belarus within 100 nautical miles of borders with
Ukraine could pose risks, Reuters reported.
"The impact for us is not huge because right now we are only
flying to a small number of destinations in Asia and we can reroute our
flights," said Luis Gallego, CEO of IAG, the parent company of British
Airways that also owns Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling.
— Rob North, Pete Muntean, Anna Chernova and Vasco
Cotovio contributed reporting.
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