The European Union and UK government have announced several trade and aviation-related sanctions on Russia following the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The EU has imposed a ban on the export of aircraft spare parts to Russia. The measure “will affect the key sector of the Russian economy and the country's connectivity”, it says, as three-quarters of Russia's current commercial aircraft fleet was built in the EU, the USA and Canada. The UK government has imposed a ban on Yury Slyusar, director of United Aircraft, a holding company that includes all major Russian aircraft manufacturers such as MiG and Sukhoi. With this ban, Slyusar will not be able to travel to the UK and any UK-based assets will be frozen, the government says. Russian flag carrier Aeroflot has also been banned from using the UK’s airspace.

Taiwan’s China Airlines expects to take delivery of eight Airbus A321neos and two Boeing 777 Freighters this year, and is exploring widebody options to replace its ageing A330-300 fleet. The carrier says it introduced A321neos in the fourth quarter of 2021 “as part of advanced preparations for the post-Covid era”. It has three in service and 14 more on order, with delivery dates ranging between May 2022 and December 2024, Data indicates. The narrow bodies will support the airline’s regional operations on Northeast Asian, Southeast Asian and cross-strait routes, which it hopes to resume progressively as the market recovers and border restrictions begin easing. With the induction of the two 777Fs, China Airlines plans to expand transoceanic cargo operations “where market demand and overall capacity permits”. Data shows the carrier has three 777Fs in service and seven more on order, with delivery dates in September and October 2022; April, August and December 2023; and April and December 2024. China Airlines foresees that shipping rates will “stay relatively high” as demand for cargo hold space continues to outstrip supply. It is targeting cargo sources such as semiconductor machinery, e-commerce goods, and consumer electronic products and equipment, as well as high-priority cargo and high-value goods requiring additional or charter flights. The airline says it is implementing differentiated pricing and a hold bidding system to adjust passenger and freighter aircraft schedules in real time in order to optimise overall revenues. It will also use passenger aircraft to support freighter operations to increase cargo revenues. It also reveals it “exploring the feasibility of new widebody passenger aircraft [to replace] its A330-300 fleet”, without indicating any potential aircraft types. Data shows that China Airlines has 23 A330-300s. Barring its 747Fs and four 737NGs, these are the oldest jets within its fleet of 92 aircraft. Twelve are between 15 and 17 years old, and another six between 10 and 14 years old. All except three of the aircraft are leased. In June and September 2021, the airline agreed with China Aircraft Leasing to sell and lease back a total of five A330-300s. In addition to its A321neos, A330-300s and 777Fs, the airline has 14 A350-900s, 10 777-300ERs, 19 737NGs and 20 747Fs.

Ukrainian authorities have closed the country's airspace due to the "high risk to aviation security for civilian aviation" following the start of direct military action with Russia on 24 February. Air navigation services provider the Ukrainian State Air Traffic Services Enterprise closed the use of the country's airspace to civilian airlines at 00.45 UTC. Ukraine International Airlines announced it would suspend scheduled and charter flights to and from Ukraine due to the closure of Ukrainian airspace for civilian airspace users until 23:59 on 24 February. Ryanair, which had in recent days said it had a “duty and obligation” to serve the country while it remains safe to do so, announced that it would cease operations to Ukraine for at least two weeks. Several other carriers have recently severed links to the country in the face of a rising risk of conflict. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued a conflict zones information bulletin with respect to Ukraine which it now describes as being an “active conflict area”. EASA says that as a precautionary measure, air operators should exercise "extreme caution and avoid using the airspace" within 100NM of the Belarusian and Russia-Ukraine border. The European regulator says the bulletin was issued following the launching of military activities over the territory of Ukraine. EASA says that airspace and critical infrastructure, including airports, are exposed to military activities which result in safety risks for civil aircraft. In particular, there is a risk of both intentional targeting and misidentification of civil aircraft. The presence and possible use of a wide range of ground and airborne warfare systems poses a "high" risk for civil flights operating at all altitudes and flight levels, it adds. The bulletin follows the issuance of an urgent message by the Russian Ministry of Defence of a “high risk” of flight safety of civil aircraft associated with use of weapon[s] and military equipment effective from 00.45 UTC on 24 February 2022 and requesting the air traffic control units in Ukraine take urgent measures to stop flights. Data shows that flight operations to and from the country have remained broadly stable in recent weeks despite rising tensions, albeit at a level below last summer, let alone compared to 2019. On 23 February, a seven-day average of 147 passenger flights departed the country, compared to 152 a month prior and 200 at the same point in 2019. Separately, the US Treasury has announced on 22 February that VEB Leasing will be subject to sanctions in relation to the actions taken by Russia in eastern Ukraine.