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.

Aeroflot is to be banned from operating into the UK. UK prime minister Boris Johnson announced the ban in Parliament on 24 February as part of a package of sanctions that are to be imposed on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. Aeroflot's website shows that it operates services into London Heathrow from Moscow Sheremetyevo. British Airways also operates services between London and Moscow. Johnson also said VTB would be targeted but did not disclose if sanctions would cover VTB Leasing.

Malaysia Airlines and Qatar Airways have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore further areas of co-operation beyond an existing codeshare partnership. As part of the tie-up, Qatar Airways says it will provide its passengers access to Malaysian destinations Penang, Langkawi and Medan via Malaysia Airlines flights from Kuala Lumpur airport. Meanwhile, Malaysia Airlines’ passengers can connect to international destinations in Qatar Airways’ network via Doha, the Middle Eastern carrier notes. The two Oneworld alliance members began their codeshare co-operation in 2004 and have since expanded the partnership.