US and EU officials forgot that Russia is 1/3 of the world’s land mass…No Fly zone over Russia being considered

Did Russia just kick the EU in the nuts or what! News just in that Russia is considering a no-fly zone over Russian airspace for commercial airline carriers from countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia.

Basically it means that all commercial flights that travel from Europe/US to Asia or from Asia to Europe/US will be royally screwed, since tons of flights cross over the Russian airspace, which is roughly 1/3 of the world’s land mass.

From Zerohedge:

…Russian Prime Minister Medvedev is considering a significant retaliation, “any unfriendly measures by the EU, including those in the area of air transportation, we’ll be studied and won’t remain without a response.” Russian business daily Vedomosti quoted unnamed sources as saying the foreign and transport ministries were discussing possible action which might force EU airlines into long and costly detours and put them at a disadvantage to Asian rivals by restricting or banning European airlines from flying over Siberia on busy Asian routes. Costs? Over $1.3bn for every months for Lufthansa, BA, and Air France…

Did Putin not warn the EU of a boomerang effect for imposing sanctions. Here comes the boomerang.

Reuters reports:

The Russian business daily Vedomosti quoted unnamed sources as saying the foreign and transport ministries were discussing possible action which might force EU airlines into long and costly detours and put them at a disadvantage to Asian rivals.

Russia may restrict or ban European airlines from flying over Siberia on busy Asian routes, a newspaper reported on Tuesday, following Western sanctions which have grounded one Russian carrier and a billionaire’s private jet.

And the costs to commercial airlines…how about billions of USD a month.

Blocking flights by Western airlines over Siberia would add an average an hour and a half to the travel time, Oleg Panteleev, head of the analytical department of the Aviaport agency told Vedomosti. It will result in higher fuel and labor costs, and more strain on technical equipment.

Vedomosti quoted one source as saying a ban could cost carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France 1 billion euros ($1.3 billion) over three months. Restrictions would lead to longer flights, higher fuel use and other additional costs.

Lufthansa said it operates about 180 flights a week through Siberian airspace but declined further comment, as did British Airways.

I sure hope that making Neo-cons like Victoria Nuland and Oligarch Hunter Biden super wealthy is worth it, because the pain about to be inflicted on European and Amercian travellers and airline carriers will not be pretty.

References:

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2014-08-05/russia-plans-airspace-blockade-european-flyovers-sanctions-retaliation

http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/08/05/us-ukraine-crisis-russia-airlines-idUSKBN0G50DL20140805