gleb stolyarov
(Reuters) – The European Commission said on Monday if the EU's latest sanctions on Moscow include a ban on third-country airlines from flying to a group of 27 countries, if they make domestic flights in Russia, the European Commission said on Monday.
The EU's 16th sanctions plan against Russia includes a ban on major aluminum imports and sales of gaming consoles, while also listing cryptocurrency exchanges and dozens of so-called Shadow Fleet ships that are used to evade sanctions.
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Russian authorities are exploring allowing airlines from other countries to take domestic flights between Russian airports to cope with aircraft shortages caused by Western sanctions.
“The parcel has expanded the flight ban to allow third-country airlines that conduct domestic flights within Russia or provide air cargo to Russian airlines or fly domestically in Russia,” the European Commission said. “If listed, these airlines will not Flying to the EU is allowed.”
Russia's Ministry of Transport declined to comment on the new EU measures.
In October last year, Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit said Moscow had talks with some Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, to allow their airlines to hold domestic flights in Russia.
Air Russia, which mainly uses Western aircraft delivered before the Ukrainian war, is working to meet the growing demand for air travel as sanctions hinder contact with parts and plans to continue to delay the supply of domestically produced passenger aircraft.
(Reported by Gleb Stolyarov; Edited by Alexander Marrow and Gareth Jones)
