The Government of Spain has closed Spanish airspace to airlines from the Russian Federation, in application of Regulation 2002/334, approved early this morning by the Council of the European Union, with retroactive effect from 00:00 today.
This EU-wide measure is part of the economic sanctions adopted by Brussels in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to militarily invade Ukraine.
According to a statement issued by the Spanish government, the decision prohibits aircraft operated by Russian air carriers, including by code-share or capacity reservation marketing companies, aircraft registered in Russia or aircraft not registered in Russia but owned, chartered or otherwise controlled by Russian natural or legal persons, entities or bodies from landing in, taking off from or flying over the territory of the Union.
However, the closure shall not apply in case of emergency landings or emergency overflights, the Madrid authorities said.
In addition, the competent authorities may authorise an aircraft to land in, take off from or overfly the territory of the Union if they have previously determined that the aircraft operation is necessary for humanitarian purposes or for any other purpose consistent with the objectives of the new regulation.
Ban on Russian ships
Spain has also proposed imposing similar measures in the maritime sector.
Some of the measures it is considering are banning Russian ships from Spanish ports, prohibiting them from supplying fuel or supplies in Spanish ports, or even preventing Russian ships or those owned by Russian companies from entering Spanish waters.
Currently two Russian airlines, Aeroflot and Siberia Airlines, operate direct flights between Moscow and Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Alicante and Malaga. According to the government, the following flights will be affected today 28/02/2022:
