Airspace curbs isolate Russia in European skies
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New Delhi: More nations in Europe join the bandwagon that closed their airspace to Russia.
Of course, Russia's fire power runs unquestionably over Ukraine with more cities falling to Russian forces.
However, Russia faces more hostile response from Europe than ever before with nations blockading their airspace to aircraft registered or operated by Russians.
Blockading airspace has emerged over the years as a tactic by countries to aver their stance in geopolitical conflicts.
Last year, European nations curbed flights from Belarus after it forced a plane to land so as to arrest a dissenting journalist, Indian Express reported.
Joining Ukraine, which has closed its airspace for Russia since 2015, as many as 29 nations issued NOTAMs (Notice to Air Missions) blockading the use of their airspace. Russia reciprocated in equal vein issuing counter prohibitions.
The report delineates counties that have issued blockade to Russia; they include UK, Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Estonia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, Germany, Italy, Iceland, Austria, the Netherlands, Malta, Denmark, Canada, Luxembourg, Croatia, Albania, France, Cyprus, Hungary, Ireland, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Belgium and Sweden have closed their airspace for Russia.
Russian airlines or those registered in Russia have to go lengthy detours to fly out of the country; where it usually takes 2 hours 35 minutes for Belgrade-Moscow flight, it took 5 hours 45 minutes on Sunday.
