Taiwanese carriers resume flights through Russian airspace after restrictions lift

Taiwan's two largest international carriers have resumed flying over Russian airspace for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, according to reports from Paddley Too and paddleyourownkanoo.com. The sudden change in routing options caught passengers off-guard over the weekend. [1][6]

The operational shift stems from regulatory adjustments in the region. Bloom Pakistan reported that Pakistan executed a policy change regarding a ban on Taiwanese airlines after flights diverted over Russia. One Mile at a Time also reported that Taiwanese airlines resumed using Russian airspace and noted potential links to actions taken by Pakistan. [8][9]

Paddley Too reported that the routing changes were not implemented to shorten total flight times to Europe by using polar paths. Instead, the decision appears connected to the broader political context of the One China policy, according to Paddley Too and paddleyourownkanoo.com. [1][6]

Airspace refers to the portion of the atmosphere over a country's territory and territorial waters that remains under that nation's regulatory authority and sovereignty. As FTMQ Travel reported earlier, Taiwanese carrier China Airlines previously adjusted its fee structure on October 16, raising airport excess baggage charges to $240 for additional checked bags on transpacific routes to the United States. [11][13]