As of March 2026, the ban on Russian flights across European airspace remains comprehensive and deeply entrenched following several years of escalating sanctions. The ban is enforced by all 27 European Union (EU) member states, including major hubs like France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Additionally, non-EU countries that align with Western security policies, such as the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Albania, maintain strict prohibitions on Russian-owned, chartered, or controlled aircraft. In February 2026, Switzerland reaffirmed its commitment by implementing the 19th EU sanctions package, which further tightened maritime and aviation restrictions. This collective "closed sky" policy means that Russian carriers cannot land in, take off from, or overfly nearly the entire European continent. For travelers, this has resulted in significantly longer flight times for routes between Europe and Asia, as aircraft must navigate around this massive restricted zone, typically rerouting through Turkey, the Middle East, or the Central Asian corridors.