Russia opens airspace to "friendly" nations

[reader]

From The Thaiger

The Russian PM, Mikhail Mishustin, has revealed that Russia would open its sky to 52 “friendly” countries from April 9 onwards after being closed to prevent the spread of Covid-19. And that other matter. On the list is Thailand who says they’re ready to welcome the Russian travellers back.

There’s also a long list of aircraft lessors waiting for leased Russian planes to leave Russian airspace so they can be “repossessed” after the leasing of Boeing or Airbus aircraft to Russian airlines a violation of the current international sanctions on Russia.

The Russian PM said, starting from April 9, Russian would cancel the Covid-19 prevention measure that limited flights to the country. The regular and charter flights between Russia and other 52 countries would be resumed, including China, India, and others “considered friendly”.

The countries on the list are Thailand, Algeria, Argentina, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Venezuela, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Egypt, Zimbabwe, Israel, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, Kenya, China, North Korea, Costa Rica, Kuwait. Lebanon, Lesotho, Mauritius, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Morocco, Mozambique, Moldova, Mongolia, Myanmar, Namibia, Oman, Pakistan, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Seychelles, Serbia, Syria, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uruguay, Fiji, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, South Africa, and Jamaica.

The countries that aren’t included in the list or are considered “unfriendly” are the US, Canada, the European Union, the UK (including mandated territories: Jersey, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, and Gibraltar), Ukraine, Montenegro, Switzerland, Albania, Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein. Monaco, Norway, San Marino, North Macedonia, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Micronesia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Taiwan.

 

[Guest]

The people on the "unfriendly" list can be proud of the way their governments have responded to the invasion of Ukraine.

 

[reader]

It's not only a case of international carriers adjusting routes to avoid Russian airspace, Russian carriers run the risk of their leased Boeing and Airbus equipment being seized by lessors. The current issues of Aviation Week reports that 78 have already been grabbed. This leaves only 193 (Russian-built) aircraft available for international passenger service out of a fleet of 1,367.

Meanwhile, US carriers have not only seen business return to pre-pandemic levels but some are surpassing that mark. The surge, however, comes with its own set of problems as airlines have neither sufficient pilots or flight attendants to handle the demand. Some are trimming capacity going into the busy summer season. Jet Blue (which has its sights set on buying LLC's Spirit and Frontier) faces the strongest headwinds because it has the greatest relative staffing shortfalls.

Delta is the current favorite of investors and not only because it's been posting good numbers. A decade ago Delta purchased an oil refinery in Pennsylvania to supply future jet fuel requirements. Some observers though it was ill conceived, especially when the pandemic drove fuel prices down. Funny how things can change on a dime.

 

[PeterRS]

Perhaps there will be more life now for my favourite aircraft, the A380. Qatar has already announced two A380 daiiy flights on the Doha/BKK route. 

[xpaulo]

On 4/10/2022 at 2:08 PM, z909 said:

The people on the "unfriendly" list can be proud of the way their governments have responded to the invasion of Ukraine.

 

And then there's Israel, on the friendly list, when it should understand more than most what it's like to be in Ukraine's position, plus the billions in American military aid every year, plus the American veto at the United Nations that's consistently used to protect Israel from UN resolutions.

[reader]

From CNN Travel

Experts are predicting a summer of travel chaos. Here's why

(CNN) — It's time! Travel restrictions are easing, infection rates are settling, you're fully vaccinated, and you're finally thinking about going on vacation. This is the year to make up for the holidays you didn't enjoy over the past two years. You've likely saved for two years to make it a good one. This -- finally -- is it.

 

Or is it? While you may have got all your ducks in a row, the same can't be said for all of the travel industry. Not only are there ever-changing rules on testing, vaccines and quarantines to abide by when traveling; but once you've sorted your side out, getting to your destination looks set to be fraught with difficulty.

 

Top of the chaos board? Aviation. The industry was, of course, decimated by the pandemic -- but many airlines and airports currently seem unable to cope with travel's resurgence.

 

Countries on both sides of the Atlantic are seeing a slew of canceled flights due to lack of crew, long lines at airports thanks to understaffing, and the kind of rates for rental cars that make buying a vehicle look cheap. That's, in part, because everyone has the same idea as you -- only this week, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian announced that March 2022 had been the carrier's best month for sales in its history.

 

Facing unprecedented demand, the much-reduced industry is struggling to cope.

 

In the US, things have been brewing for the past year, as domestic travel has taken off again. Meanwhile in UK, the chaos at major airports has made the news every day for the past couple of weeks, and seen the national carrier, British Airways, reported to the industry regulator for potential law-breaking.

The flying experience may be smoother elsewhere in Europe, but car rentals are not. A bubble car can set you back more than your hotel -- and that's before you factor in rocketing gas prices. Traveling within the US? That "carmageddon" is hitting just as hard.

 

Welcome to a summer of chaos? Let's hope not -- but industry figures rather fear it will be.

 

"I think it's a preview of things to come -- and I do think things are going to get worse," says consumer advocate Christopher Elliott, who's been monitoring the situation in the US and Europe.

 

"The summer will be chaos," he believes -- so much so that he's advising his followers to avoid Europe in August, the peak of the peak season.

That airline chaos? He lays it squarely at the door of the airlines.

 

"I think we've been seeing some delays related to the pandemic, but I think they're baked into the equation at this point -- I don't think that's really a legitimate excuse," he says.

 

"It's everyone's fault except their own. If they took a good look in the mirror they'd realize that during the pandemic they downsized and laid staff off, and now demand has come surging back and they're caught off guard. They haven't been able to staff up fast enough to meet demand."

 

Continues with photos at

 

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/travel-chaos-summer-2022/index.html

[vinapu]

judging by fast rise of airfares , those predictions may be just right

I had taste of it in last days of January with my flights cancelled no less than 4 times ones span of 24 hours, snow storm  and lack of crews given as reasons 

I'd not be booking any connecting flights with tight connection time until dust settles

[vinapu]

5 hours ago, xpaulo said:

And then there's Israel, on the friendly list, when it should understand more than most what it's like to be in Ukraine's position, plus the billions in American military aid every year, plus the American veto at the United Nations that's consistently used to protect Israel from UN resolutions.

mind you Israel's position is completely opposite to Ukraine's with THE BOMB and it's big bear while far away is very friendly , not hostile beast next door like Ukraine has