Russia avoids EU flight ban with help of Serbian airline

It is reported by The Guardian.

Air Serbia, which is largely state-owned, has doubled the number of direct flights from Moscow to Belgrade to 15 a week to meet rapidly growing demand after the EU banned Russian aircraft and airlines from flying in its airspace following Russia's invasion of Ukraine", the message says.

Note that in response, Russia closed its airspace to EU and UK aircraft. Serbia is not a member of the EU and has refused to impose sanctions against Russia. Its aircraft can freely cross EU airspace. Thus, the Balkan country has become the only European air corridor open to Russia.

The number of passenger seats on flights between Russia and Serbia increased by 50% in the first week of March compared to the week before Russian tanks entered Ukraine.

"In the near future, passenger traffic on flights between Russia and Serbia will increase even more", the publication added.