BBC News 27 February 2022
Russian airlines face a near-total airspace blockade to the country's west after an EU official said most European countries are set to impose flight bans.
A formal decision is expected on the measure shortly.
Finland, which borders Russia, Denmark and Austria said on Sunday they would implement bans.
Russia has responded with tit-for-tat restrictions for many of the countries banning its flights.
Estonia, Latvia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Romania said on Saturday they were banning some flights from Russia.
They joined Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic in implementing curbs - and Russia has banned flights in retaliation.
Meanwhile, Russian-owned planes, including private jets, can no longer enter UK and Irish airspace.
Finland, which shares an 800 mile (1,300km) border with Russia, "is preparing to close its airspace to Russian air traffic," Transport Minister Timo Harakka wrote on Twitter.
Austrian minister Leonore Gewessler said the country supported an EU-wide ban but in the meantime would immediately ban all Russian air traffic.
Denmark's foreign minister Jeppe Kofod said on Twitter that the country would close its airspace and push for an EU-wide ban.
The restriction on flights over many of the countries to Russia's west will require its airlines to take circuitous routes, resulting in longer flight times.
Finland's decision may leave the Gulf of Finland - around 74 miles (120km) wide at its broadest point - as the only viable passage for Russian planes travelling to European countries that have yet to ban flights.
Commercial airlines are also avoiding airspace around Ukraine, Moldova and Belarus following Russia's invasion.
In the United States, Delta Air Lines said it would suspend a flight booking agreement with Russia's Aeroflot.
The UK's ban on Russian flights led Moscow to retaliate with a similar curb on British planes.
Virgin Atlantic said avoiding Russia would add between 15 minutes and an hour to its flights between the UK and India and Pakistan.
Australian airline Qantas said it would use a longer route for its direct flight between Darwin and London that does not overfly Russia.
