Airlines flying from the UK to Australia and the Far East will be forced to reroute jets to avoid flying over Russian airspace amid the conflict in the region after the invasion of Ukraine.
Moscow banned UK airlines from its airports and airspace in retaliation to similar moves announced by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson yesterday.
A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) warning across Ukraine and parts of Russia has been issued instructing pilots to avoid the area and route around it.
It may not be a major inconvenience for airlines, but on Thursday the UK announced that it was banning Russian planes from its airspace in retaliation for the unprovoked invasion.
Russia announced on Friday it was banning British airlines from landing at its airports or crossing its airspace, its state civil aviation regulator said. This means airlines heading to Australia and Asia must be diverted around the region. A lengthy conflict could force airlines to look at price rises to cover extra costs caused by any diversions.
Russian national airline Aeroflot has been banned from landing in the UK and denied permission to use UK airspace after the UK Civil Aviation Authority said it had suspended Aeroflot's foreign carrier permit.
"This means that Aeroflot will not be permitted to operate flights to the United Kingdom until further notice," the UK Civil Aviation Authority said.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he had signed restrictions prohibiting all scheduled Russian airlines from entering British airspace.
Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpar was shot down over rebel-held eastern Ukraine in 2014 killing 298 people, including British citizens.
The flight crashed in a field in territory held by pro-Moscow separatists fighting against Ukrainian forces, after being hit with what international investigators say was a Russian surface-to-air missile.
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