The Council of the European Union approved on 21 July the seventh package of sanctions against Russia, including a partial ban on imports of gold. Simultaneously, within this new package, European authorities refined restrictions on the supply of certain goods and the provision of services to the Russian aviation sector to reflect evolving safety and strategic considerations.
According to the Council of Europe, these adjustments align with international aviation safety standards. The European body noted that Russian technical assistance for aviation goods and technologies will be permitted only to the extent necessary to support the development and alignment of technical industrial standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. This clarification is meant to maintain safe operations while gradually supporting essential aviation activities.
Additionally, the ban on transactions with Russian state institutions will be eased slightly. The package includes exemptions for agricultural products. The European Union underscored its commitment to food security, stressing that measures taken in response to Russia’s actions should not disrupt global food supplies. It emphasized that trade in agricultural products and food, including wheat and fertilizers, between Russia and third countries remains unaffected by these measures.
Restrictions will not block third-country and non-EU consumers from acquiring Russian medicines and medical devices, ensuring continued access to essential healthcare products where safety standards are met.
The European Council reaffirmed strong support for Ukraine and signaled continued, substantial assistance aimed at stabilizing Ukraine’s economy, military capacity, social structures and financial resilience, including humanitarian aid.
Boeing 737 MAX will return
There are indications that the Boeing 737 MAX could resume flights affecting Russia in the near term, according to notices issued by aviation information authorities. Russian aviation authorities have not formally announced a full lifting of the flight ban. The transport ministry’s press service stated that Russia has allowed airlines from friendly countries to operate Boeing 737 MAX flights in its airspace, while carriers from unfriendly nations remain restricted.
The 737 MAX experience a global grounding following two fatal crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia within five months, in 2018 and 2019. After thorough investigations, Boeing identified issues linked to flight-control software and stability mechanisms. The program was revised, and the aircraft was cleared for operation in the United States in November 2020 and later in the European Union. Russia did not recertify the jet for domestic use during that period.
Flight tracking data show a growing presence of the 737 MAX in fleets operated by airlines such as Turkish Airlines, SCAT of Kazakhstan and Belavia of Belarus, among others. Following the NOTAM, a Belavia flight briefly traversed Russian airspace, routing from Minsk to Tbilisi.
Sanctions against the aviation industry
In response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, the European Union banned the sale of aircraft, spare parts and related equipment to Russian carriers. European firms were barred from providing insurance, maintenance and support services, and allied nations including Canada and the United States quickly restricted access to Russian airspace for their own carriers and those of allied states.
In early March, American manufacturers halted the supply of spare parts and maintenance support for Russian airlines, with Airbus soon following suit. A broad roster of Russian carriers, including Aeroflot, Rossiya, Pobeda, Ural Airlines and Utair, found itself listed on the EU air security blacklist.
According to the Russian Transport Ministry at the start of March, the country operated a large fleet of aircraft, with many registered outside Russia. Efforts have been ongoing to transfer those assets to the domestic aviation register in response to the evolving sanctions landscape.