Normally the flight would travel a distance of 496 KM (308 miles).
However, due to current flight with restrictions with Russia (which includes Kaliningrad), Belarus and the EU, the plane instead has to travel over 1,500 KM (932 miles) around all the Baltic countries, through Russia and finally on to Belarus.
This means the flight which should only take an hour now takes over twice as long.
Current Flight Restrictions
As of June 2025, significant flight restrictions remain in place between Russia, Belarus, and the European Union (EU), stemming from geopolitical tensions and ongoing sanctions.
Flights Between Russia and the EU
- EU Airspace Ban: Since February 2022, the EU has prohibited Russian-owned, registered, or controlled aircraft from entering, overflying, or landing in EU airspace. This ban extends to all Russian carriers, including major airlines like Aeroflot and S7 Airlines.
- Reciprocal Measures: In response, Russia has banned EU carriers from its airspace. Consequently, there are no direct commercial flights between Russia and EU countries.
- Safety Advisories: The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has issued warnings about the risks of flying over western Russian airspace, citing incidents such as the downing of Azerbaijan Airlines Flight 8243 in December 2024.
Flights Between Belarus and the EU
- EU Sanctions: Following the forced diversion of Ryanair Flight 4978 in May 2021, the EU imposed a ban on Belarusian carriers from overflying EU airspace or accessing EU airports. This effectively grounded Belavia, Belarus’s national airline, within the EU.
- Belarusian Restrictions: In December 2023, Belarus reciprocated by banning the landing of any aircraft entering from EU airspace without special authorization. Additionally, aircraft departing from Belarus are prohibited from entering the airspace of neighbouring EU countries—Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia.
Flights Between Russia and Belarus
- Open Airspace: Despite international sanctions, air travel between Russia and Belarus remains unrestricted. The two countries have maintained open airspace and continue to operate flights between their territories.
- Visa Agreement: As of January 2025, Russia and Belarus have implemented a mutual visa recognition agreement, allowing travelers with a visa or residence permit from one country to enter, stay, and transit through the other without additional documentation.
In summary, while air travel between Russia and Belarus continues unimpeded, flights between these countries and the EU are heavily restricted due to ongoing sanctions and safety concerns.
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