Russia bans British airlines from flying through its airspace

Russia has banned British airlines from landing at its airports or crossing its airspace, its state civil aviation regulator said on Friday, February 25.

The move follows London's ban on the flights of Russian flag carrier Aeroflot imposed in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

ALSO READ - Russian Aeroflot barred from entering the UK and its airspace

"A restriction was introduced on the use of Russian airspace for flights of aircraft owned, leased or operated by an organisation linked to or registered in the UK," the Rosaviatsia aviation authority said in a statement. 

British Airways normally operates three flights per week each way between London and Moscow

The ban took effect from 11:00 AM Moscow time (0800 GMT), it said, and included flights transiting through Russian airspace. It said the decision was taken "as a response to unfriendly decisions of the UK aviation authorities". 

British Airways normally operates three flights per week each way between London and Moscow. Virgin Atlantic's cargo-only flights between London Heathrow and Shanghai, which normally operate four times a week, have also been suspended.

The move follows London's ban on the flights of Aeroflot in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday, February 24 announced an imminent ban on the ability of the Aeroflot airline to operate in the UK as he outlined a new tranche of sanctions against Russia following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

The largest and most severe package of economic sanctions against Russia tabled in the House of Commons includes a full asset-freeze of Russian state-owned bank VTB and powers to allow the UK to exclude Russian banks from Britain's financial system.

As the Russian troops advance towards Ukraine from several directions, laying siege to the nation's capital-Kyiv, Ukrainians are hanging on to dear life for every bit of good news they can grab hold of.

Just when all hopes seem lost, comes a ray of hope, almost out of movie-the news of the 'Ghost of Kyiv"

BGR | Representative

Since Thursday, digital whispers of a lone airborne hero among the Ukrainian resistance, have been doing the rounds. Although his name and history are deeply shrouded in mystery, many are calling the pilot the "first European Ace since World War II".

With no real confirmation of its existence, who or what is the "Ghost of Kyiv?

The Ukrainian Mig-29 "Ghost of Kyiv"

The Ghost of Kyiv is an urban legend as the nickname given to an unconfirmed Mig-29 Fulcrum flying ace, who is credited with shooting down six Russian planes in the Kyiv Offensive on 24 February 2022.

MIG-29 fighter aircraft fly at a military airbase in Vasylkiv, Ukraine | REUTERS/Gleb Garanich

According to one social media post, the Ghost of Kyiv supposedly shot down four Russian fighter jets — two Su-35 Flankers, one Su-27 Flanker and one MiG-29 Fulcrum — as well as two ground-attack aircraft, so-called Su-25 Frogfoots.

Story of Ukrainian Ace pilot goes viral | Representative | New York Post

Furthermore, news started pouring in claiming the "Ghost" had brought down another four helicopters and a Russian Ilyushin II-76 that was carrying a landing force near Vasilkyv in the south of Kyiv.

In what can be termed as one of the most turbulent times in Ukrainian history, this "mystery pilot", is supposedly active in the air and defending the country's airspace, looking to expand the list of aerial kills on his fighter resume.

Is he/she for real? Or is it, as it always later turns out to be, just another social media hype?

The "Ghost of Kyiv"- fact or myth?

Ever since the news of the "Ghost" broke the internet, people have been going bonkers with many not believing it to be real.

Here's one of the first three tweets from the internet which mentioned the "Ghost of Kyiv'' for the very first time:

https://twitter.com/aldin_ww/status/1496819456194060290?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1496819456194060290%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftaskandpurpose.com%2Fanalysis%2Fghost-kyiv%2F

The multiple videos available online were re-tweeted innumerable times, only adding fuel to the "most modern urban Russian Invasion" folklore.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense also appeared to chime in posting footage of a Mig-29 downing a Russian fighter, which ultimately proved to be a page out of a flight simulation software.

It is also to be noted that Former president Petro Poroshenko, had uploaded a picture of the heroic pilot who downed 6 aircraft from the Russian Government on Thursday, February 24- which further led to the speculation that the urban legend indeed might be true.

https://twitter.com/poroshenko/status/1497293195763408905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1497293195763408905%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.marca.com%2Fen%2Flifestyle%2Fworld-news%2F2022%2F02%2F26%2F6219757d22601d2e038b45bf.html

Ghost of Kyiv | President Petro Poroshenko's Twitter account

It is uncommon for modern warfare dogfights to result in air-to-air kills. The most recent one was that of a shootdown of an ??Armenian SU-25 warplane by a Turkish F-16 fighter jet amid clashes between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forces over breakaway territory Nagorno-Karabakh in September 2020.

Regardless, these "legendary" stories have come up at a time when the Ukrainians need the much-required hope and motivation to resist the Russian clampdown.

Although in all likelihood, this just might be a work of fiction, as people's imaginations run wild. Nevertheless, the "Ghost of Kyiv- heroic pilot of a Ukrainian MiG-29" becomes the first air combat ace- Military folklore over European soil since World War II. 

Did you know? A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator, credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.

Do you think the "Ghost of Kyiv" really exists? Or is it just another urban legend hype up by the media to play mind games with the enemy, which of course, plays a crucial factor with regards to escalating tensions?

Let us know.

SOURCE(s)

COVER: Task and Purpose

Airlines scrambled to adapt to conflict in Europe on Thursday, February 24 as Ukraine closed its airspace, fuel prices soared and carriers were urged to "exercise caution" deep inside Russia hours after Moscow's military invaded Ukraine.

Moldova, southwest of Ukraine, also halted flights, while Belarus to the north said civilian flights could no longer fly over part of its territory after Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised the dawn operation.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said Ukraine's skies and airspace in Russia and Belarus within 100 nautical miles of borders with Ukraine could pose risks. "In particular, there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft," the agency said.

"The presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems pose a high risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels."

It later issued an update on a broader area of Russian airspace, advising airlines to "exercise caution" when flying in air traffic regions controlled from Moscow or Rostov-on-Don. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration expanded an area in or near Ukraine where U.S. airlines cannot operate.

The aviation industry has taken heightened notice of the risks conflicts to pose to civil aviation since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

EASA said Russia's defence ministry had sent Ukraine an urgent message warning of high risk to flight safety due to the use of weapons and military equipment and asked Ukraine's air traffic control to stop flights.

The aviation industry has taken heightened notice of the risks conflicts to pose to civil aviation since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down over eastern Ukraine in 2014.

Websites, which before the escalation had shown multiple intelligence-gathering flights over or near Ukraine as the West showcased support by transmitting detectable signals in recent weeks, showed space as civil flights halted and analysts said any military flights went dark. 

Airlines skirted the whole country in crowded corridors to the north and west, leaving a hole in the aviation map.

An El Al flight from Tel Aviv to Toronto made a U-turn out of Ukraine's airspace around the time of its closure, the tracking website FlightRadar24 showed.

A LOT Polish Airlines flight from Warsaw to Kyiv turned back, as did Kyiv-bound flights operated by Air India and Aegean Airlines.

Ukraine International Airlines, which sent part of its fleet to safety abroad last week, diverted one Kyiv-bound flight to Moldova. Some of its planes remained grounded in Kyiv. Hungary's Wizz Air said it was trying to evacuate Ukrainian-based crew, their families and four aircraft.

In the London insurance world, underwriters acted swiftly to contain their risks. Britain said it had banned all Russian airlines including Aeroflot which operates daily to London, from entering its airspace or landing on its soil.

ALSO READ - Russian Aeroflot barred from entering the UK and its airspace

Airline shares fluctuated, with an index of major European carriers down 6% and U.S carriers erasing early losses, as some analysts warned of a sanctions war forcing carriers to fly longer routes.

Britain had banned all Russian airlines including Aeroflot from entering its airspace or landing on its soil.

Airlines and companies that control jets worth billions of dollars have voiced concerns about the risk of Russia closing its airspace as part of tit-for-tat sanctions.

Air corridors between parts of Europe or North America and Asia stretch across Russia, generating overflight fees. The crisis also cast a shadow over wider travel demand for the third northern summer in a row, after two years of the pandemic.

U.S. carriers have been boosting capacity, expecting a surge in demand to Europe. But the conflict might force travellers to change plans, Mann said. Those that do fly are likely to face higher ticket prices after oil jumped above USD 100 a barrel on Thursday, February 24.

The head of major French aerospace supplier Safran said pent-up travel demand remained strong, however. Russia meanwhile suspended domestic flights to and from several airports near its border with Ukraine, including Rostov-on-Don, Krasnodar and Stavropol, until March 2.

ALSO READ - Air India rescue flight forced to return as Ukraine closes airspace to civilian flights

An Air India aircraft flying to Ukraine to bring home Indians turned back for Delhi after Ukraine said it has closed its airspace amid Russian military operations in its eastern breakaway areas. NOTAM or notice to airmen was sent to all flights heading to Ukraine. A notice to pilots said the move was "to provide safety" for civil flights.

(With Inputs from Reuters)

Planemakers Boeing Co and Airbus SE have met executives from India’s Tata Group in recent weeks to discuss future plane orders for Air India, two people familiar with the matter said.

In January, Tata regained ownership of state-run carrier Air India after nearly 70 years in a USD 2.4 billion equity-and-debt deal. While the airline has lucrative landing slots, the group faces an uphill task to upgrade Air India’s ageing fleet and turn around its financials and service levels.

Air India has a mixed fleet of over 140 Airbus and Boeing planes, and industry executives estimate it would cost Tata more than USD 1 billion to refurbish the ageing aircraft.

Tata negotiating aircraft order for Air India with Airbus and Boeing

Bloomberg reported on Thursday, February 24 that Tata had begun preliminary discussions with the planemakers and lessors for jets including Airbus A350-900s and Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, citing people familiar with the matter.

The talks are at a preliminary stage, with Tata Sons assessing the right fleet mix and no decisions taken yet on aircraft type or order size.

The carrier is in discussions for new Airbus or Boeing narrow-body jets that form the mainstay of Air India’s domestic and short-haul operations, as well as wide-body aircraft capable of flying as far as the US, the people said.

Air India, one of the world’s first buyers of the Boeing Dreamliner, operates the oldest versions of the fuel-efficient workhorse.

A deal for 50 brand new 787-9 jets could be valued at USD 14.6 billion at sticker prices, although discounts are common in such large transactions. Air India, one of the world’s first buyers of the Boeing Dreamliner, operates the oldest versions of the fuel-efficient workhorse, although several of them remain grounded due to a lack of parts.

Airlines typically order jets years in advance because manufacturing capacity at planemakers is limited and getting early delivery slots remains a challenge. Demand for narrow-body jets, such as those in the A320neo and 737 Max families of aircraft, is particularly high, meaning it can take years after an order is placed to induct aircraft into a fleet.

Air India’s average fleet age is more than 10 years.

“In terms of fleet, we know we have work to do,” Natarajan Chandrasekaran, chairman of the Tata Group, told Air India employees earlier this month at an internal company briefing. “We will address it with utmost urgency.”

Air India will increase the number of aircraft it has - both wide-body and narrow-body - and will move to do that with speed in the coming months, Chandrasekaran told staff. Air India’s average fleet age is more than 10 years.

The airline, with its maharajah mascot, was once renowned for its lavishly decorated planes and stellar service championed by founder JRD Tata. Air India was founded in 1932 and nationalised in 1953.

Air India is the third airline brand in the Tatas’ stable as it holds a majority interest in AirAsia India and Vistara.

Since the mid-2000s, however, Air India’s reputation has declined as financial troubles mounted. It flew widebody planes with business class seats in poor repair and grounded some of its new 787s to use for spare parts.

Tata, the autos-to-steel conglomerate, operates two other airlines: Vistara, in a joint venture with Singapore Airlines, and AirAsia India, which operates in partnership with AirAsia Group.

(With Inputs from Bloomberg and Reuters)

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday, February 24 announced an imminent ban on the ability of the Aeroflot airline to operate in the UK as he outlined a new tranche of sanctions against Russia following President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the ban in parliament and the UK Civil Aviation Authority said it had suspended Aeroflot's foreign carrier permit. "This means that Aeroflot will not be permitted to operate flights to the United Kingdom until further notice," the UK Civil Aviation Authority said.

UK PM Boris Johnson announced an imminent ban on the ability of Aeroflot airline to operate in the UK

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he had signed restrictions prohibiting all scheduled Russian airlines from entering British airspace.

This ban is part of a package of sanctions against Moscow, which included sanctions against Russia’s second-largest bank, VTB, and other financial institutions as well as Russian oligarchs.

The UK is the first government worldwide to ban Russia’s Aeroflot following the Ukraine invasion on Thursday, February 24 morning. Aeroflot won't be able to land in UK airports nor fly through UK's airspace.

The UK is the first government worldwide to ban Russia’s Aeroflot following the Ukraine invasion on Thursday, February 24 morning.

The Russian flag carrier Aeroflot flew daily between Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) and London Heathrow International Airport (LHR). The flight number is SU2578. Today’s flight landed at 12:05, local time, and was operated using an Airbus A320, registration VP-BRG, per FlightRadar24.com.

The aircraft left the UK a few hours later, operating Aeroflot’s flight SU2579 from London to Moscow.

Johnson declared that a vast invasion is underway by land by sea and by air as innumerable missiles and bombs have been raining down on innocent people.

“Today in concert with our allies we will agree to a massive package of economic sanctions designed in time to hobble the Russian economy,” said Johnson.

Aeroflot's A321 painted in the Manchester United Livery.

The football squad Manchester United is also reportedly looking to end their nine-year association with Aeroflot. The Red Devils are looking to disassociate themselves with their long-term sponsors, according to local media outlets.

Aeroflot has 4,878 international flights scheduled in February 2022, according to data provided by Cirium.

The Russian-state airline leading international destinations (besides Simferopol, Ukraine) are Minsk, Dubai, Yerevan, Istanbul, Milan, Bishkek, Male, Berlin, Tashkent, and Samarkand. Each of these destinations has between 52 and 101 scheduled flights this month.

Emirates is prepared to cancel its order for 115 B777X if Boeing delays their first deliveries beyond 2023, Chairman Tim Clark told Airlineratings in an interview.

"If it goes beyond 2023 and it goes on for another year, we probably cancel the program. What else can we do? We can't continue the way we are. Boeing really needs to get their act together and get this aircraft sorted. Don't forget - the aircraft was originally designed for delivery in April 2020, it's now 2024 if we are lucky," he said.

Emirates is prepared to cancel its order for 115 B777X if Boeing delays first deliveries beyond 2023

They were supposed to come in May 2023. He mentioned that Boeing has a huge backlog as they haven’t produced any aircraft lately, that’ll take them two or three years to go over that. They got production and quality control issues that they admit, and now after the MAX crisis with the regulator saying ‘we want to have a good look at everything, that is slowing the whole thing down.

The Emirati carrier has firm orders for 99 B777-9s and 16 B777-8s, making it the largest customer of the type globally. Clark underlined that Emirates remains committed to the B777X, partially due to a lack of alternatives in the same capacity range. He revealed that he had lobbied Airbus to develop a replacement for the A380, but the manufacturer is unwilling to invest in this segment.

Emirates trimmed its B777 order to 115 jets partly by swapping them for B787 Dreamliners

While twelve initial B777-9 fuselages for Emirates have already been built, Clark said Boeing had so far committed to delivering just three to five of them in 2024.

The American manufacturer hopes to obtain the B777-9 type certificate by July 2023, although the Federal Aviation Administration slowed the certification process in 2021, potentially delaying service entry to the first quarter of 2024.

Clark disclosed that intensive engine tests are planned this summer in Dubai, where the aircraft will be subject to repeated maximum-power take-offs in hot and dusty conditions.

Emirates originally ordered 150 B777 twin-engined jets in 2013

Clark said Emirates' order for 30 B787-9s was also in danger due to the ongoing pause in the type's production caused by manufacturing issues discovered in mid-2021.

"They were supposed to come in May 2023. But it's not going to happen, how can they deliver? Look at the huge backlog, they haven't produced any aircraft lately, that'll take them two or three years to go over that... [Our contract with Boeing] is in a complete mess. We don't want to cancel the B787s or the B777-9s, we want the airplanes," Clark said.

Emirates' fleet currently comprises 121 A380-800s (which are no longer produced)

The airline is worried that these delivery delays will cause capacity gaps once traffic recovers after the COVID-19 pandemic. Emirates' fleet currently comprises 121 A380-800s (which are no longer produced, although Clark has vowed to continue operating some of them through the mid-2030s), 124 B777-300(ER)s (which are 9 years old on average), and ten B777-200(LR)s (13.8 years old).

"We try to deal with it by extending aircraft lives and trying to advance some of the new aircraft, which currently will only come from 2024. Life extension will affect about 120 aircraft, 80 of them A380s, plus about 40 or 50 B777-300ERs. The exact numbers haven't been fixed. Their life will be extended by six to ten years each," Clark explained.

We don't want to cancel the B787s or the B777-9s, we want the airplanes - Tim Clark

A Boeing spokesperson said it "remains focused on executing the comprehensive series of tests and conditions to demonstrate the safety and reliability of the airplane’s design". Boeing will continue to work closely with customers, the company said.

Emirates originally ordered 150 of the twin-engined jets in 2013, becoming by far their biggest customer. It later trimmed the order to 115 jets partly by swapping them for 787s and has previously suggested it could switch more of the order to 787s.