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Highlights
- US bans Russian planes and private jets, closes airspace to tighten noose around Russia.
- Global aircraft leasing companies join the US, want back their carriers from Russian operators.
- It is expected that Russia would also ban US flights just like it banned flights from EU nations.
US president Joe Biden believes that without consequences, Russia’s ‘aggression’ against Ukraine would continue unabated. So, to single out Russia for its attacks on Ukraine, the Biden administration has banned Russian flights from entering its airspace. The ban which was announced on Tuesday (March 1) will come into effect from Wednesday. The ban will bar entry of Russian state operated and private aircrafts in the US.
Russia is already facing increasing number of sanctions and bans for its invasion in Ukraine. After Russian banks being cut-off from the SWIFT network and the Russian energy sector seeing pull-out from energy majors like BP and Shell, it is now the Russian aircrafts who are facing the impact of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s decision.
Russian Aeroloft and Pobeda asked to return leased planes
On Monday, Russia’s largest airline, Aeroflot, announced the suspension of its flights to key US cities including New York, Washington, Miami and Los Angeles. The suspension by the Russian airline is likely to continue through Wednesday. Prior to flight suspension the Russian airline and its unit Pobeda have reported requests coming in from aircraft leasing companies asking to return their fleet.
Dublin based AerCap, the world’s largest aircraft leasing company, has also stopped leasing to Russian carriers. Reportedly, AerCap’s has a huge exposure to Russia and Ukraine. Leasing companies are also likely to face non-cooperation from Russian airlines as it is expected that they may create obstacles.
The European Union and Canada have already announced airspace closure for Russian airlines and even private planes owned by their businessmen and celebrities. US is set to join hands with its allies to find and seize yachts, luxury apartments and private jets owned by Russian Oligarchs. US president Biden is already terming their wealth as ‘ill-begotten gains’ and is reportedly assembling a dedicated taskforce to go after their ‘crimes’.
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Will US ban on Russian planes provoke a Russian response?
The US sanctions will apply to ‘any plane owned, certified, operated, registered, chartered, leased, or controlled by, for, or for the benefit of a person who is a citizen of Russia’. Prohibition also applies to scheduled and charter passenger and cargo flights, like the Russian AirBridgeCargo Airlines.
While US is following in the footsteps of its allies, the airspace closure by EU and Canada have been reciprocated by Moscow with a similar ban. Russia has already banned airlines from 36 countries, including all EU members.
However, US carriers don’t operate nonstop flights to Russia, and the Russian airspace is just a part of its long-haul flight routes, mainly going to Asia. Also reportedly, cargo flights between North America and Aisa account for just one-quarter of the global freight traffic. Out of this very few use the Russian airspace and many of them have already banned such flights or changed routes.
Also Read- Ukraine crisis: BP, Shell and other big names that have exited Russia
