Russia's flagship carrier Aeroflot AFLT.MM will stop all flights abroad with the exception of those to Belarus from March 8, the TASS news agency quoted the company as saying on Saturday 5 March.
Russia's state aviation authority on Saturday 5 March recommended that Russian airlines with foreign-leased aicraft to suspend flights of passengers and cargo abroad from Russia from March 6 and from foreign countries to Russia starting on March 8.
Russian Airlines With Foreign-Leased Planes Told Not To Fly Abroad From March 6
Russia's state aviation authority on Saturday 5 March recommended Russian airlines with foreign-leased aicraft to suspend flights of passengers and cargo abroad from Russia from March 6 and from foreign countries to Russia starting on March 8.
The European Union, Britain and United States and some other countries closed their airspace starting next week, part of a package of punitive measures after Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation."
Korean Air To Cancel Passenger Flights To Moscow, Reroute Cargo Flights
Korean Air Lines Co Ltd 003490.KS said on Friday 4 March that it plans to cancel four passenger flights to and from Moscow for the next two weeks, adding that the airline could not refuel its planes in Moscow following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The South Korean carrier said it also plans to reroute cargo flights that originally passed through Moscow, sending them instead directly from Incheon, South Korea, to destinations in Europe without making stops in Russia until March 18.
"We were informed by a Russia-based refueling service provider this afternoon that we can no longer refuel our planes at the airport in Moscow," an official at Korean Air told Reuters, adding that refueling firms might be having difficulty sourcing jet fuel due to sanctions against Russia.
Korean Air, which normally uses Russian airspace for its Europe flights, joins a growing number of carriers that have cancelled or rerouted flights between Europe and north Asia in the wake of the crisis.
Korean Air said it will continue monitoring developments in Russia and make further plans.
Japan Airlines Co Ltd 9201.T and ANA Holdings Inc 9202.T cancelled all flights to and from Europe on Thursday 3 March and cancelled or rerouted flights on Friday 4 March as well, citing safety concerns.
Carnival's AIDA Cruises Cancels Stops At Russian Port
Carnival Corp-owned CCL.N AIDA Cruises said on Thursday 3 March that four of its ships would not stop at St. Petersburg port in Russia this summer as were previously scheduled, after the country's invasion of Ukraine.
The move comes after most major US cruise operators, including Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd NCLH.N and Royal Caribbean Group RCL.N, joined many Western brands in suspending operations in Russia.
Germany-based AIDA Cruises said other destinations including Riga in Latvia, Copenhagen in Denmark or Oslo in Norway would replace the Russian port that Norwegian Cruise chief executive officer Frank Del Rio had recently referred to as "one of the crown jewels of the Scandinavia itineraries."
Similar announcements are expected from Carnival's other brands, including Cunard and Holland America Line, in the near term, a company spokesperson said.
Royal Caribbean Joins Rivals In Cancelling 2022 Sailings To Russia
Cruise operators Royal Caribbean Group RCL.N and Viking Cruises cancelled sailings to Russia on Wednesday 2 March, joining their rivals and many Western brands in suspending operations in the country after its invasion of Ukraine.
Celebrity Cruises, owned by Royal Caribbean, said it was removing Russian port city St. Petersburg from upcoming itineraries, adding that it would visit other Scandinavian ports in its place.
Silversea Cruises also said that it would re-route summer voyages scheduled to stop in Russia and Ukraine, while Royal Caribbean International said it had canceled its visits to St. Petersburg on all its summer itineraries.
The changes to itineraries mark yet another blow to the recovery of the U.S. cruise industry, after the Omicron coronavirus variant earlier this year forced operators to cancel sailings.
Other major operators MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd NCLH.N also recently modified their itineraries, while Carnival Corp CCL.N said it would follow suit.
Several Westerns brands, from Boeing Co BA.N to Ford Motor Co F.N, have joined in on an unprecedented wave of corporate actions against Moscow, although Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation."
News by Reuters, edited by Hospitality Ireland. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
