Russian airlines come under ban in Ukraine

Ukraine has imposed sanctions against two dozen Russian airlines, putting a partial or absolute embargo on their operations in, out, and over the country for a period of one year. The National Security and Defense Council’s resolution to that effect was enforced yesterday by President Petro Poroshenko’s decree.

Aeroflot, its subsidiaries (DonAvia, OrenAir, and Rossiya Airlines) and Gazpromavia (all government-controlled), as well as privately-owned S7 Airlines, VIM Airlines, Red Wings, Transaero, Ural Airlines, Yakutia, and cargo carrier Atran, are among the carriers covered by the ban. The black list also includes business aviation operators such as RusJet, government-owned Air Squadrons 224 and Rossiya, and even two airlines that went out of business earlier this year (Polet and Ak Bars Aero).

Notably, some of the blacklisted airlines never operated flights to Ukraine to begin with; by contrast, UTair Aviation, which has a large number of Ukrainian destinations in its network, is unaffected.

Kiev’s largest airport, Boryspil, still features Aeroflot, S7, and Rossiya flights listed as active in its tomorrow’s schedule. Kharkiv’s airport has already cancelled Aeroflot’s flights from Moscow.

Aeroflot’s spokesperson refused to either comment on the possible aftermath of the sanctions or clarify which of the flights were planned for tomorrow. S7 told Russian Aviation Insider it had not yet received any official notification regarding the embargo, and that all its flights were operated as per the flight schedule.

Ukraine’s decision is certain to further decrease the fast-shrinking air traffic between the two countries. In 2014, Russian airlines served just over 1 mln passengers on routes between Russia and Ukraine, whereas in 2013 Ukraine ranked second among the most popular destinations among Russian travelers, with over 2.1 mln passengers using flights to that country.

Earlier, Ukraine announced the suspension of air services with Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.