Russia is going to restrict overflights for EU airlines?

Russia may restrict or ban European airlines from flying over Siberia on busy Asian routes, a Russian newspaper reported, following Western sanctions which have grounded Russian carrier Dobrolet.

The Russian business daily Vedomosti quoted unnamed sources as saying the foreign and transport ministries were discussing possible action which might force EU airlines into long and costly detours and put them at a disadvantage to Asian rivals.

Shares in Russian carrier Aeroflot - which, according to Vedomosti, gets around USD$300 million a year in fees paid by foreign airlines flying over Siberia - dropped after the report.

The Transport Ministry and the civil aviation authority declined to comment on the possibility of responding to the European Union sanctions imposed due to the Ukraine crisis.

At the height of the Cold War, most Western airlines were barred from flying through Russian airspace to Asian cities, and instead had to operate via the Gulf or the US airport of Anchorage, Alaska on the polar route.

However, European carriers now fly over Siberia on their growing routes to countries such as China, Japan and South Korea, paying the fees which have been subject to a long dispute between Brussels and Moscow.

The newspaper quoted one source as saying a ban could cost carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France EUR€1 billion (USD$1.3 billion) over three months. Restrictions would lead to longer flights, higher fuel use and other additional costs.

However, state-controlled Aeroflot would also be hurt if it lost the fees.

Lufthansa said it operates about 180 flights a week through Siberian airspace but declined further comment, as did British Airways.

The EU widened its sanctions, imposed originally over Russia's annexation of Crimea in March, after last month's downing of a Malaysian airliner over territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Moscow rebels.

Russian low-cost airline Dobrolet, run by Aeroflot, suspended all flights last week after its plane lease agreement was cancelled because the EU extended sanctions on the carrier for flying to Crimea.

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EU adopts new noise regulation for European airports

The European Parliament has adopted a new regulation on the establishment of rules and procedures with regard to the introduction of noise-related operating restrictions at European airports. Airlines and airports welcomed the clarification and harmonisation of the methodology, which will need to be followed prior to the introduction of any new noise mitigating measures. Without undermining the decision-making power of local authorities, the new legislation will require the adoption of new measures to be preceded by a comprehensive noise assessment. 

The regulation is in line with the ‘balanced approach’, an international policy endorsed by all member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).  As part of the agreement, nearby residents should be kept better informed of restrictions and noise-related health problems should be given more consideration. Potential effects on the economy and impact on the capacity of air transport in Europe will also be taken into account.

ACI Europe, director general, Olivier Jankovec, explains today’s result is ‘welcome news’.

“Thanks to the strengthened application of ICAO’s ‘balanced approach’ at the initiative of the European Commission, the assessment of operating restrictions will now become more transparent and robust.

“Once in place, this new regulation should not only open up better lines of communication between the EU and national authorities dealing with this issue, it will also help reinforce dialogue between all the different stakeholders involved," Jankovec adds.

A joint statement was issued by Jankovec with Athar Husain Khan, CEO of the Association of European Airlines (AEA).

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