New EU sanctions target airlines operating domestic flights in Russia

The European Union's latest sanctions against Moscow include a ban on third-country airlines flying to the 27-nation bloc if they carry out domestic flights in Russia, the European Commission said on Monday.

The EU's 16th sanctions package against Russia includes a ban on primary aluminium imports and the sale of gaming consoles, while also listing a cryptocurrency exchange and dozens of vessels of the so-called shadow fleet used to evade sanctions.

Russian authorities are exploring allowing airlines from other countries to operate domestic flights between Russian airports as a way to deal with a shortage of aircraft caused by Western sanctions.

"The package extends the flight ban to enable the listing of third-country carriers conducting domestic flights within Russia or supplying aviation goods to Russian airlines or for domestic flight in Russia," the European Commission said. "If listed, these airlines will not be allowed to fly to the EU."

Russia's Ministry of Transport declined to comment on the new EU measures.

Last October Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit said Moscow was in talks with some Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, for their airlines to run domestic flights in Russia.

Russian airlines, which mainly use Western aircraft delivered before the war in Ukraine, are struggling to meet the growing demand for air travel as sanctions hinder access to parts and plans to supply domestically made airliners are being constantly postponed.