Russian airspace closure poses safety and security risk for airlines serving Asia.
The diversion of an Air India jetliner to Russia with engine problems has highlighted industry tensions surrounding Russian airspace, which has been banned for some foreign carriers in retaliation for Western sanctions over the Ukraine war. While US, European, and Japanese carriers have stopped flying over Russia, Air India and some Gulf-based and Chinese airlines continue to do so, making flying times shorter and giving them a cost edge over competitors. The disagreements put a spotlight on the strategic and geographic importance of Russia in the global aviation world as it offers the most direct flying path between the West and the East.