BA warns Russian ban makes flights up to 90 minutes longer Business

Flights to Asia and India will take up to 90 minutes longer following the ban on Russian airspace, British Airways has warned.

Moscow has banned British carriers from its airspace in retaliation for the government’s decision to block Aeroflot from flying to British airports.

Ben Wallace, the defense secretary, called the move a “tick-for-tick response” from the Kremlin.

The restrictions were mainly aimed at British Airways. It is still operating fewer flights than normal due to the pandemic, which means disruptions to destinations such as Hong Kong, Beijing and Seoul will be less pronounced.

Sean Doyle, BA’s chief executive, said the no-fly zone “wouldn’t have a dramatic impact” on ticket prices. Other routes that usually pass through Russia can easily be diverted as they are changed daily, he added.

BA’s three weekly flights to Moscow have been canceled indefinitely.

Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority has suspended the operating license of Aeroflot, the Russian airline, following President Putin’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday.

Mr Wallace told ITV: ‘I think it was their retaliation for us yesterday, banning Aeroflot from using and landing in the UK. It’s their tit-for-tat answer.

Meanwhile, Manchester United have canceled their 10-year £40m sponsorship deal with Aeroflot.

The dogfight came as BA owner IAG said it would return to profitability in 2022 after suffering heavy losses over the past two years due to the pandemic.