The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a directive advising foreign airlines to avoid flying over Russia’s Airspace. This recommendation follows the crash of an Embraer E190 aircraft operated by AZAL in Aktau, Kazakhstan, and the preliminary findings of Azerbaijani authorities regarding the causes of the incident.
The updated safety bulletin outlines new restrictions for using Russian airspace when operating flights to or through the country. Specifically, airlines are advised to avoid airspace at all altitudes west of the 60th meridian, covering the Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Rostov-on-Don, Yekaterinburg, and Samara flight information regions.
The directive is effective until July 31, 2025, and applies not only to EU-based carriers but also to third-country airlines authorized by EASA. The agency emphasized that the directive could be revised if the assessment of flight safety conditions in Russian airspace changes.
This recommendation underscores ongoing concerns about aviation safety in the region amid geopolitical tensions and evolving risk assessments. Airlines are advised to monitor updates closely and adjust their routes accordingly to comply with the directive.
