EU updates Russian sanctions, banning any airline that operates within Russia

The European Union (EU) has tightened flight restrictions on Russia, extending a ban that prohibits third-country airlines from operating within the EU if they conduct domestic flights in Russia or supply aviation goods to Russian airlines.

This new set of sanctions, which were welcomed by the European Commission on February 24, 2025, mean that any airline registered outside the EU and Russia that operates domestic flights within Russia or supports Russian airlines will be banned from the EU.

Current EU restrictions on Russia, that are already in place, include a ban of all Russian aircraft and carriers from flying within the EU and a ban on the sale, supply, transfer, or export of aircraft, aircraft parts, and equipment to Russia.

This 16th package of sanctions against Russia by the EU targets important sectors of the Russian economy such as energy, trade, transport, infrastructure, and financial services.

These sanctions were introduced exactly three years after the Russian of invasion of Ukraine began, on February 24, 2022.