Russia may ban European airlines’ trans-Siberian routes: report

PanARMENIAN.Net - Russia may impose restrictions or a ban on European airlines using trans-Siberian routes, raising the cost of their flights to Asia in response to the European Union's sanctions over Ukraine, Reuters reported, citing the business daily Vedomosti.

Russian low-cost airline Dobrolyot, run by state-controlled Aeroflot, had to suspend all flights last week after its plane lease agreement was canceled because the EU extended sanctions on the carrier for operating flights to Crimea.

Possible restrictions on transit flights over Russian territory are being discussed by the foreign and transport ministries, Vedomosti quoted a source as saying.

The ban could not only affect European carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways, and Air France, but also hit back at Aeroflot which gets the overflight fees from the airlines, Vedomosti wrote.