Russia, through its Air Transport Agency, announced, this Monday, the interdiction of flights from Portugal and 35 other countries (check the list below). This is a retaliation to the European Union (EU) decision that prohibits, in its airspace, the circulation of Russian aircraft or aircraft operated by Russian citizens, whether private or not.
"In accordance with international law, a restriction on flights by air carriers from 36 countries has been introduced in response to the European states' ban on flights operated by Russian and/or Russian-registered air carriers," Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency said.
However, it remains possible to enter Russian airspace with a special permit. Travel can only take place with the permission of the federal agency or the Russian Foreign Ministry.
The EU decided to ban Russian flights last Sunday, February 27. The measure is one of the sanctions that the group of countries applied to Russia because of the attacks on Ukraine, which began last Thursday.
The countries with banned flights to Russia:
Austria; Albania; Anguilla (British Overseas Territory); Belgium; Bulgaria; British Virgin Islands; United Kingdom; Hungary; Germany; Gibraltar; Greece; Denmark + Greenland + Faroe Islands + Territorial Sea; Camisa; Ireland; Iceland; Spain; Italy; Canada; Cyprus; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Finland; France; Croatia; Czech Republic; Sweden; and Estonia.