Most of the carriers still overflying Russia, however, are based in Asia and the Middle East — many of which are household names like Qatar Airways, Air China, Etihad Airways, and Emirates. And, some of these routes are even flying to and from the US.

As of February 2026, the list of airlines permitted to fly over Russian airspace is largely restricted to carriers from countries that have not imposed sanctions on Russia. This includes major "super-connector" airlines like Emirates, Qatar Airways, and Etihad, as well as Turkish Airlines, Air India, and various Chinese carriers like Air China and China Southern. Most Western airlines from the US, EU, UK, and Canada remain banned from Russian airspace and must take significantly longer routes between Europe and Asia. This "airspace divide" in 2026 has created a noticeable competitive advantage for Middle Eastern and Asian carriers, as their ability to fly the "Great Circle" routes over Siberia allows for shorter flight times and lower fuel consumption compared to the "detour" routes required for Western-aligned airlines.