Ryanair does not support a longer ban on flights through Belarusian airspace. This was stated by the President of the Irish Assembly Michael O’Leary in the British Parliament. According to him, it is important that there be freedom to fly through the airspace of states.
European and British authorities have issued safety directives for airlines to avoid Belarusian airspace, while Belarusian airlines are no longer allowed to fly through EU and UK airspace. The move followed the emergency landing of a Ryanair plane in the Belarusian capital, Minsk, on May 23. A political opponent and his girlfriend were also arrested.
O’Leary said he supports those punitive measures against Belarus in the short term, but in the long term the aviation sector depends on free access to airspace, otherwise international air traffic could be affected. He also called on the international authorities to request guarantees from Belarus and Russia that there would be no forced landing in the future.
The IATA also recently denounced safety directives to prevent aircraft from flying through Belarusian airspace. IATA President Willie Walsh said politics and aviation should remain separate.
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