WASHINGTON, August 8 (RIA Novosti) - One of the world’s largest airlines United Airlines is concerned over Russia’s possible ban or restrictions on European and American airlines using trans-Siberian routes, Christen David, Corporate Communications Director for the United Airlines told RIA Novosti.
“We’re concerned that this ban will affect our ability to fly certain routes as currently planned, and we are evaluating options for each route that may be affected,” David said.
On Thursday, Russia’s Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Moscow decided to ban all transit flights across the country for Ukrainian carriers and may change entry and exit points in its airspace for European and American flights.
Another large international air carrier American Airlines is not yet providing comments on the issue.
“American [Airlines] does have flights that go into Russian airspace, but we are not providing further details at this time,” American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller told RIA Novosti.
Medvedev also said Russia decided to ban all transit flights across the country for Ukrainian carriers.
The announcement was made as a response to Western sanctions. A subsidiary of state-owned Aeroflot, Dobrolet was included in the European Union’s blacklist unveiled on July 30, among other Russian entities targeted by sanctions over the country’s alleged role in the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis. The European Union said Russia’s low-cost carrier Dobrolet carried out flights to Crimea, facilitating the former Ukrainian region’s integration with Russia.
