Airlines Fly Over Russian Airspace Amid Rising Safety Warnings for British Passengers

Despite Western bans after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, a dozen airlines continued to overfly Russian territory on routes to and from the United Kingdom in the week ending 3 September. Flight-tracking data identified nine Chinese carriers, two Uzbek airlines, and Pakistan International Airlines as the most frequent users. Emirates also routes Dubai-to-U.S. West Coast flights through Russian airspace, while several Gulf airlines operate UK-bound services without entering Russian skies.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declared Russian airspace “completely dangerous” for civilian flights and urged airlines, insurers and airports to avoid it. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) reiterated calls for stronger member-state commitments to protect civil aircraft from conflict-zone risks, noting heightened danger from long-range weapons, drones and electronic interference. The UK government’s guidance permits flights over conflict zones but requires each carrier to conduct its own risk assessment.

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A Hainan Airlines spokesperson said the carrier continuously monitors overseas conflict situations and prepares two to three alternative routes before each flight. Chinese airlines cite the ability to offer “a few hundred pounds cheaper” fares on UK-to-Asia routes by using Russian airspace, while Uzbek and Pakistani carriers rely on the same corridor for London-Tashkent and London-Islamabad services. No mass cancellations have been reported among non-Western airlines, although a Turkish carrier halted some Russia-bound flights on 2 September for “technical and operational” reasons.

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• “We want to warn every airline that uses Russian airspace, every insurer, everyone who still uses key Russian airports: the Russian sky is becoming completely dangerous.” — The ICAO

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