Europe-Asia aviation: recovery stalled even before Ukraine crisis

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic the recovery in passenger traffic and capacity on Europe-Asia has lagged behind other route regions from Europe.

Of course, the recovery is most advanced in short haul markets, but Europe's other major long haul region - the North Atlantic - has enjoyed an upturn in recent months, whereas Europe-Asia has been left behind.

Europe-Asia has been held back by the slower removal of travel restrictions in much of Asia Pacific. The route region now faces a significant additional challenge as a result of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Airspace over Russia is important to many routes between Europe and Asia, but is now closed to airlines from much of Europe. Finnair, which has a higher percentage of ASKs on Europe-Asia than any airline outside Russia, has suspended a number of Asia routes rather than fly uneconomic longer routes to avoid Russian airspace.