Russia's airspace ban is reminiscent of the Cold War-era when most airlines couldn't fly over the country — see the history of the Siberian Corridor

Taylor RainsMar 13, 2022, 19:24 IST

Airline pilots in an Airbus cockpit.Shutterstock.com

Flying over Russia has been a battle for international airlines due to airspace restrictions imposed by the country.
Russia has used its airspace as a geopolitical tool to get countries to do what it wants.

Flying across foreign airspace has historically been an open right for airlines, with most countries in the world allowing international transit without restrictions.

American Airlines at JFKWangkun Jia/Shutterstock

However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has muddied the waters, forcing Russia, the European Union, and other Western nations to close their airspace in tit-for-tat sanctions.

Military drills in South Russia are nearing their conclusion with Russian tanks being loaded onto railway platforms and seemingly moved out of the region.Russian Defense Ministry Press Service

However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has muddied the waters, forcing Russia, the European Union, and other Western nations to close their airspace in tit-for-tat sanctions.

While Russia's flight ban has forced carriers to add hours of extra time to certain routes, strictly controlled Russian airspace is nothing new. For decades, the country has only allowed certain global carriers to fly its skies.

British Airways adjusted flight path between New Delhi and London.Courtesy of FlightRadar24.com

While Russia's flight ban has forced carriers to add hours of extra time to certain routes, strictly controlled Russian airspace is nothing new. For decades, the country has only allowed certain global carriers to fly its skies.

This is because Russia has refused to join the 1944 International Civil Aviation Organization's Transit Agreement, which allows any airline to fly in any participating country's airspace.

ICAO building.Inspired By Maps/Shutterstock

This is because Russia has refused to join the 1944 International Civil Aviation Organization's Transit Agreement, which allows any airline to fly in any participating country's airspace.

Instead, it has turned its skies into a political weapon. Here is the history of Russia's coveted Siberian Corridor.

The Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia.Jarung H/Shutterstock

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union would not allow anyone to fly over its airspace except for its own carriers. This created a huge barrier for travel, particularly for airlines shuttling people between Europe and Asia because they could not get from one to the other quickly or easily.

Sochi airport in the USSR circa 1985.Martynova Anna/Shutterstock

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union would not allow anyone to fly over its airspace except for its own carriers. This created a huge barrier for travel, particularly for airlines shuttling people between Europe and Asia because they could not get from one to the other quickly or easily.

For example, UK-based British Overseas Airways Corporation, which would later become British Airways, spent 36 hours and 10,000 miles to get from London to Tokyo, two cities that were just 6,000 miles apart if the carrier flew over the closed Soviet Union airspace.

Thiel/Express/Getty Images

For example, UK-based British Overseas Airways Corporation, which would later become British Airways, spent 36 hours and 10,000 miles to get from London to Tokyo, two cities that were just 6,000 miles apart if the carrier flew over the closed Soviet Union airspace.

However, that option was off the table. So, to make the journey, BOAC had to fly from London, and stop in eight cities across Europe and Asia before getting to Tokyo to circumvent Soviet airspace.

Jimmy Wilds/Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

However, that option was off the table. So, to make the journey, BOAC had to fly from London, and stop in eight cities across Europe and Asia before getting to Tokyo to circumvent Soviet airspace.

Stops included places like Rome, Italy; Karachi, Pakistan; and Bangkok, Thailand.

MLADEN ANTONOV / Contributor / Getty Images

The 36-hour journey used BOAC's comet jet, though the company also used smaller turbo planes which made the journey in a whopping 88 hours.

Bristol Britannia 312 G-AOVT of BOAC at Manchester Airport in 1962.RuthAS

While this route worked, it was inefficient, expensive, and painfully long, but there was a better way.

SAS

In 1957, Scandinavian Airlines started flying over the Arctic after developing the technology needed to ensure traditional magnetic compasses worked over the North Pole. From Denmark, it stopped in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, and Winnipeg, Canada before landing in Los Angeles, cutting the journey time from 36 hours to just 22.

KLM flight over Greenland in July 2019.Taylor Rains/Insider

In 1957, Scandinavian Airlines started flying over the Arctic after developing the technology needed to ensure traditional magnetic compasses worked over the North Pole. From Denmark, it stopped in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, and Winnipeg, Canada before landing in Los Angeles, cutting the journey time from 36 hours to just 22.

Soon after, SAS flew a DC-7 on a polar route from Copenhagen to Tokyo via Anchorage, avoiding the treacherous journey south of the Soviet Union and pioneering a new way of travel.

Scandinavian Airlines' inaugural polar route from Copenhagen to Tokyo.SAS

Soon after, SAS flew a DC-7 on a polar route from Copenhagen to Tokyo via Anchorage, avoiding the treacherous journey south of the Soviet Union and pioneering a new way of travel.

Leaving from London, BOAC also started flying north above the USSR, stopping in Anchorage, Alaska, before heading to Tokyo. What once took up to 88 hours was now just a 17 and a half hour journey.

Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Leaving from London, BOAC also started flying north above the USSR, stopping in Anchorage, Alaska, before heading to Tokyo. What once took up to 88 hours was now just a 17 and a half hour journey.

With the success of the polar route to Asia, almost every other major European carrier followed in BOAC's footsteps, creating a huge boom for Anchorage.

Anchorage airport.Jean-Erick PASQUIER/Getty Images

During the 1970s, Anchorage was served by a number of major international carriers, like Lufthansa, Japan Airlines, and KLM making it one of the most connected cities in the world at the time.

Lufthansa aircraft.Dirk Daniel Mann/Shutterstock

During the 1970s, Anchorage was served by a number of major international carriers, like Lufthansa, Japan Airlines, and KLM making it one of the most connected cities in the world at the time.

However, not all airlines needed to stop in Anchorage.

Japan Airlines.Markus Mainka/Shutterstock

In 1966, Russia signed an agreement with Japan Airlines to allow JAP to fly over Russian airspace using aircraft and flight crews provided by the Soviet national carrier, Aeroflot. The cabin crews consisted of employees from both airlines.

Japan Airlines and Aeroflot planes at Moscow-Sheremetyevo International AirportGetty/SOPA Images/Contributor

In 1966, Russia signed an agreement with Japan Airlines to allow JAP to fly over Russian airspace using aircraft and flight crews provided by the Soviet national carrier, Aeroflot. The cabin crews consisted of employees from both airlines.

In 1967, the first-ever commercial flight using the Trans-Siberian Air Corridor took off from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport to Tokyo. Tu-114 aircraft were used for the flights and the journey time was shortened to 11 hours because there was no need for a stop.

Japan Airlines/Aeroflot Tupolev 114.Aviation Photography of Miami

In 1967, the first-ever commercial flight using the Trans-Siberian Air Corridor took off from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport to Tokyo. Tu-114 aircraft were used for the flights and the journey time was shortened to 11 hours because there was no need for a stop.

The following summer, Air France, the British Overseas Airways Corporation, and KLM followed JAP with flights between Japan and European cities like Paris and Frankfurt.

A KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Embraer E195-E2 aircraft.Wirestock Creators / Shutterstock.com

The following summer, Air France, the British Overseas Airways Corporation, and KLM followed JAP with flights between Japan and European cities like Paris and Frankfurt.

All flights had to make a mandatory stop in Moscow, forcing the airlines to pay hefty fees. However, the carriers found that it was still more economic to pay Moscow's fees than spend extra fuel and time circumventing Russia.

Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.Julia Kuznetsova/Shutterstock

All flights had to make a mandatory stop in Moscow, forcing the airlines to pay hefty fees. However, the carriers found that it was still more economic to pay Moscow's fees than spend extra fuel and time circumventing Russia.

Soon, stopping in Anchorage became less necessary. Not only were some airlines allowed to fly over Russian airspace, but others also started using modern, longer-range jets that could make the journey from Europe and Japan nonstop.

White trijet.fotoVoyager/Getty Images

Soon, stopping in Anchorage became less necessary. Not only were some airlines allowed to fly over Russian airspace, but others also started using modern, longer-range jets that could make the journey from Europe and Japan nonstop.

Finnair, for example, started flying widebody planes over the North Pole to Tokyo nonstop in 1983 by adding extra fuel tanks onboard.

A Finnair Airbus A330-300.Sudpoth Sirirattanasakul/Shutterstock.com

The flight cut the journey to 13 hours. While the trek would only take nine hours flying directly over the USSR, flying around Russia was still less time than stopping in Anchorage. At the time, Finnair was the only airline flying nonstop between Western Europe and Japan.

Finnair first airline to fly direct from Western Europe to Asia.Finnair

The flight cut the journey to 13 hours. While the trek would only take nine hours flying directly over the USSR, flying around Russia was still less time than stopping in Anchorage. At the time, Finnair was the only airline flying nonstop between Western Europe and Japan.

The Alaskan city also started seeing less traffic with the fall of the Soviet Union, which prompted Russia to open its airspace to more major European and Asian airlines beyond its special allowance for carriers like Japan Airlines and KLM.

A soldier waves a Russian flag from the top of his tank as armored units leave their positions in Moscow following the collapse of the military coup against president Gorbachev in 1991.-/Getty Images

The Alaskan city also started seeing less traffic with the fall of the Soviet Union, which prompted Russia to open its airspace to more major European and Asian airlines beyond its special allowance for carriers like Japan Airlines and KLM.

With the newfound flyover rights, more carriers started flying directly over Siberia between Europe and Asia, leaving Anchorage's new international terminal barren. The airport has only recently started picking back up during the pandemic as e-commerce and cargo demand booms.

Anchorage International Airport.EQRoy/Shutterstock

With the newfound flyover rights, more carriers started flying directly over Siberia between Europe and Asia, leaving Anchorage's new international terminal barren. The airport has only recently started picking back up during the pandemic as e-commerce and cargo demand booms.

Russia's relaxed airspace restrictions proved to be a major economic gain for the country because it could charge hefty fees to airlines who fly over. According to IATA, Siberian overflight fees could be up to $3,500, which were then handed down to the passenger.

Passengers in the Domodedovo airport in Moscow.Oleg Elkov/Shutterstock

Russia's relaxed airspace restrictions proved to be a major economic gain for the country because it could charge hefty fees to airlines who fly over. According to IATA, Siberian overflight fees could be up to $3,500, which were then handed down to the passenger.

According to the EU, Russia imposed "discriminatory charges" that amounted to nearly $400 million since the Soviet's fall. However, the country normalized its fees for airliners flying over its airspace after it joined the World Trade Organization in 2012.

World Trade Organization building in Geneva, Switzerland.EQRoy/Shutterstock

According to the EU, Russia imposed "discriminatory charges" that amounted to nearly $400 million since the Soviet's fall. However, the country normalized its fees for airliners flying over its airspace after it joined the World Trade Organization in 2012.

While the country does not impose excessively high fees anymore, it still has not signed the International Civil Organization's Transit Agreement, meaning it can still pick and choose which airlines fly through its airspace.

United Airlines at LAX.Angel DiBilio/Shutterstock

While the country does not impose excessively high fees anymore, it still has not signed the International Civil Organization's Transit Agreement, meaning it can still pick and choose which airlines fly through its airspace.

For the most part, only one airline per European country can fly over Russia, like Lufthansa from Germany...

Lufthansa aircraft.Tupungato/Shutterstock

...and Iberia from Spain.

Iberia aircraft.chamomile/Shutterstock

However, England is an exception because Russia grants flyover rights to both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

A British Airways Airbus A380.Thiago B Trevisan / Shutterstock.com

While the policy was not a problem for decades, it became a hurdle for low-cost carriers during their rise in the 1990s. Particularly, Norway-based Norwegian Air Shuttle was continuously denied permission because SAS already holds Siberian overflight rights for Scandinavian carriers.

Norwegian Air Shuttle.Norwegian Air Shuttle

While the policy was not a problem for decades, it became a hurdle for low-cost carriers during their rise in the 1990s. Particularly, Norway-based Norwegian Air Shuttle was continuously denied permission because SAS already holds Siberian overflight rights for Scandinavian carriers.

Norwegian argued that it is based in Norway, while SAS is based in Denmark, so it should be given permission as a Norwegian carrier. However, SAS is partially-registered in Norway, so Russia maintained its restrictions.

Scandinavian Airlines.SAS

Norwegian argued that it is based in Norway, while SAS is based in Denmark, so it should be given permission as a Norwegian carrier. However, SAS is partially-registered in Norway, so Russia maintained its restrictions.

While Norwegian is no longer flying to Asia due to financial struggles caused during the pandemic, Russia's refusal to grant access to its airspace was a challenge that kept the carrier from expanding east.

Norwegian Air Shuttle.Norwegian Air Shuttle

While Norwegian is no longer flying to Asia due to financial struggles caused during the pandemic, Russia's refusal to grant access to its airspace was a challenge that kept the carrier from expanding east.

As far as US airlines, there have not been any longstanding agreements between US carriers and Russia like is seen in the EU. According to Bloomberg, overfly rights have been granted on a "patchwork" basis in which Russia would renew allowances every six months or less depending on the carrier.

Southwest Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines aircraft.DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty

As far as US airlines, there have not been any longstanding agreements between US carriers and Russia like is seen in the EU. According to Bloomberg, overfly rights have been granted on a "patchwork" basis in which Russia would renew allowances every six months or less depending on the carrier.

In 2021, Russia approved an extension to the use of its airspace by US carriers, ensuring operations could continue.

United Airlines at LAX.Angel DiBilio/Shutterstock

That is until Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Since the attack, Russian airlines are having airspace problems of their own, and most Western nations cannot fly over the country.

A convoy of Russian armored vehicles moves along a highway in Crimea, Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2022.Associated Press

That is until Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Since the attack, Russian airlines are having airspace problems of their own, and most Western nations cannot fly over the country.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson banned Russian flag carrier Aeroflot shortly after the invasion as part of the country's "largest-ever" set of sanctions against the Eastern European nation.

British Prime Minister Boris JohnsonAdrian Dennis/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson banned Russian flag carrier Aeroflot shortly after the invasion as part of the country's "largest-ever" set of sanctions against the Eastern European nation.

Founded in 1923, Aeroflot is Russia's state-owned airline and offers flights to over 150 destinations, including four in the US: New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Washington DC.

Aeroflot aircraft at JFK airport in New York City.Sorbia/Shutterstock

Founded in 1923, Aeroflot is Russia's state-owned airline and offers flights to over 150 destinations, including four in the US: New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Washington DC.

In the US, Delta Air Lines announced on February 25 that it was suspending its codeshare agreement with Aeroflot. Soon after, President Joe Biden closed US airspace to Russian aircraft.

Delta and Aeroflot.Angel DiBilio/Shutterstock

In the US, Delta Air Lines announced on February 25 that it was suspending its codeshare agreement with Aeroflot. Soon after, President Joe Biden closed US airspace to Russian aircraft.

Russia's airspace ban is part of the nation's retaliation against the West, but it is not uncommon for Russia to use its skies as a political weapon.

Russian President Vladimir Putin.AFP/Stringer via Getty Images

For example, in 2014, the country threatened to close its airspace to European carriers in response to sanctions against the nation, similar to what the world is seeing today.

Air France/KLM.Markus Mainka/Shutterstock

For example, in 2014, the country threatened to close its airspace to European carriers in response to sanctions against the nation, similar to what the world is seeing today.

The need to "bypass our airspace could drive many struggling airlines into bankruptcy," former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, said at the time, according to The Washington Post.

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev.Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

The need to "bypass our airspace could drive many struggling airlines into bankruptcy," former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, said at the time, according to The Washington Post.

Now, as sanctions continue, some analysts say the use of Russian airspace may revert to Cold War-era flying, with airlines taking long routes around the country and using Anchorage as a needed fuel stop once again.

Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport in Alaska.EQRoy/Shutterstock

Now, as sanctions continue, some analysts say the use of Russian airspace may revert to Cold War-era flying, with airlines taking long routes around the country and using Anchorage as a needed fuel stop once again.

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Russia's airspace ban is reminiscent of the Cold War-era when most airlines couldn't fly over the country &mdash; see the history of the Siberian Corridor

Flying across foreign airspace has historically been an open right for airlines, with most countries in the world allowing international transit without restrictions.

However, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has muddied the waters, forcing Russia, the European Union, and other Western nations to close their airspace in tit-for-tat sanctions.

While Russia's flight ban has forced carriers to add hours of extra time to certain routes, strictly controlled Russian airspace is nothing new. For decades, the country has only allowed certain global carriers to fly its skies.

This is because Russia has refused to join the 1944 International Civil Aviation Organization's Transit Agreement, which allows any airline to fly in any participating country's airspace.

Instead, it has turned its skies into a political weapon. Here is the history of Russia's coveted Siberian Corridor.

During the Cold War, the Soviet Union would not allow anyone to fly over its airspace except for its own carriers. This created a huge barrier for travel, particularly for airlines shuttling people between Europe and Asia because they could not get from one to the other quickly or easily.

For example, UK-based British Overseas Airways Corporation, which would later become British Airways, spent 36 hours and 10,000 miles to get from London to Tokyo, two cities that were just 6,000 miles apart if the carrier flew over the closed Soviet Union airspace.

However, that option was off the table. So, to make the journey, BOAC had to fly from London, and stop in eight cities across Europe and Asia before getting to Tokyo to circumvent Soviet airspace.

Stops included places like Rome, Italy; Karachi, Pakistan; and Bangkok, Thailand.

The 36-hour journey used BOAC's comet jet, though the company also used smaller turbo planes which made the journey in a whopping 88 hours.

While this route worked, it was inefficient, expensive, and painfully long, but there was a better way.

Soon after, SAS flew a DC-7 on a polar route from Copenhagen to Tokyo via Anchorage, avoiding the treacherous journey south of the Soviet Union and pioneering a new way of travel.

Leaving from London, BOAC also started flying north above the USSR, stopping in Anchorage, Alaska, before heading to Tokyo. What once took up to 88 hours was now just a 17 and a half hour journey.

With the success of the polar route to Asia, almost every other major European carrier followed in BOAC's footsteps, creating a huge boom for Anchorage.

During the 1970s, Anchorage was served by a number of major international carriers, like Lufthansa, Japan Airlines, and KLM making it one of the most connected cities in the world at the time.

However, not all airlines needed to stop in Anchorage.

In 1966, Russia signed an agreement with Japan Airlines to allow JAP to fly over Russian airspace using aircraft and flight crews provided by the Soviet national carrier, Aeroflot. The cabin crews consisted of employees from both airlines.

In 1967, the first-ever commercial flight using the Trans-Siberian Air Corridor took off from Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport to Tokyo. Tu-114 aircraft were used for the flights and the journey time was shortened to 11 hours because there was no need for a stop.

The following summer, Air France, the British Overseas Airways Corporation, and KLM followed JAP with flights between Japan and European cities like Paris and Frankfurt.

All flights had to make a mandatory stop in Moscow, forcing the airlines to pay hefty fees. However, the carriers found that it was still more economic to pay Moscow's fees than spend extra fuel and time circumventing Russia.

Soon, stopping in Anchorage became less necessary. Not only were some airlines allowed to fly over Russian airspace, but others also started using modern, longer-range jets that could make the journey from Europe and Japan nonstop.

Finnair, for example, started flying widebody planes over the North Pole to Tokyo nonstop in 1983 by adding extra fuel tanks onboard.

The flight cut the journey to 13 hours. While the trek would only take nine hours flying directly over the USSR, flying around Russia was still less time than stopping in Anchorage. At the time, Finnair was the only airline flying nonstop between Western Europe and Japan.

The Alaskan city also started seeing less traffic with the fall of the Soviet Union, which prompted Russia to open its airspace to more major European and Asian airlines beyond its special allowance for carriers like Japan Airlines and KLM.

With the newfound flyover rights, more carriers started flying directly over Siberia between Europe and Asia, leaving Anchorage's new international terminal barren. The airport has only recently started picking back up during the pandemic as e-commerce and cargo demand booms.

Russia's relaxed airspace restrictions proved to be a major economic gain for the country because it could charge hefty fees to airlines who fly over. According to IATA, Siberian overflight fees could be up to $3,500, which were then handed down to the passenger.

According to the EU, Russia imposed "discriminatory charges" that amounted to nearly $400 million since the Soviet's fall. However, the country normalized its fees for airliners flying over its airspace after it joined the World Trade Organization in 2012.

While the country does not impose excessively high fees anymore, it still has not signed the International Civil Organization's Transit Agreement, meaning it can still pick and choose which airlines fly through its airspace.

For the most part, only one airline per European country can fly over Russia, like Lufthansa from Germany...

...and Iberia from Spain.

However, England is an exception because Russia grants flyover rights to both British Airways and Virgin Atlantic.

While the policy was not a problem for decades, it became a hurdle for low-cost carriers during their rise in the 1990s. Particularly, Norway-based Norwegian Air Shuttle was continuously denied permission because SAS already holds Siberian overflight rights for Scandinavian carriers.

Norwegian argued that it is based in Norway, while SAS is based in Denmark, so it should be given permission as a Norwegian carrier. However, SAS is partially-registered in Norway, so Russia maintained its restrictions.

While Norwegian is no longer flying to Asia due to financial struggles caused during the pandemic, Russia's refusal to grant access to its airspace was a challenge that kept the carrier from expanding east.

As far as US airlines, there have not been any longstanding agreements between US carriers and Russia like is seen in the EU. According to Bloomberg, overfly rights have been granted on a "patchwork" basis in which Russia would renew allowances every six months or less depending on the carrier.

In 2021, Russia approved an extension to the use of its airspace by US carriers, ensuring operations could continue.

That is until Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Since the attack, Russian airlines are having airspace problems of their own, and most Western nations cannot fly over the country.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson banned Russian flag carrier Aeroflot shortly after the invasion as part of the country's "largest-ever" set of sanctions against the Eastern European nation.

Founded in 1923, Aeroflot is Russia's state-owned airline and offers flights to over 150 destinations, including four in the US: New York City, Miami, Los Angeles, and Washington DC.

In the US, Delta Air Lines announced on February 25 that it was suspending its codeshare agreement with Aeroflot. Soon after, President Joe Biden closed US airspace to Russian aircraft.

Russia's airspace ban is part of the nation's retaliation against the West, but it is not uncommon for Russia to use its skies as a political weapon.

For example, in 2014, the country threatened to close its airspace to European carriers in response to sanctions against the nation, similar to what the world is seeing today.

The need to "bypass our airspace could drive many struggling airlines into bankruptcy," former Russian president, Dmitry Medvedev, said at the time, according to The Washington Post.

Now, as sanctions continue, some analysts say the use of Russian airspace may revert to Cold War-era flying, with airlines taking long routes around the country and using Anchorage as a needed fuel stop once again.

Russia's airspace ban is reminiscent of the Cold War-era when most airlines couldn't fly over the country — see the history of the Siberian Corridor