KLM no longer allows its crews to stay overnight in Russia due to the "uncertain situation". This was reported by a KLM spokeswoman. The airline therefore canceled a flight that would fly to Moscow on Thursday evening.

KLM usually flies twice a day to Moscow Sheremetyevo and once a day to Saint Petersburg. The evening flight to Moscow normally stays overnight in the Russian capital.

KLM will therefore continue to fly through Russian airspace for the time being. In addition to the flights to Russia itself, this concerns routes to destinations in the Far East. The company says it is monitoring the situation in Ukraine "closely". On February 12, the airline already stopped flights to Kiev.

The European aviation authority EASA says that airlines should be vigilant and careful with flights through parts of Russian airspace. The agency points to "increased military activity", with, for example, the risk of missiles that could penetrate certain parts of the airspace.

Air France has announced that it will reduce its weekly amount of flights from Paris to Moscow. There were twelve so far, but from Friday Air France will only fly once a day to the Russian capital. There will also no longer be crews staying overnight in Russia. Air France also flies twice a week to Saint Petersburg. That frequency is not adjusted.

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* Origin: AVIATION ECHO HQ (2:292/854)