Imposing sanctions and continuing support for Ukraine’s ongoing conflict is systematically harming the EU’s economy. Airlines have experienced this as they are restricted from using Russian airspace. This has significantly increased the operating costs when flying to Asia, specifically to China. As a result, some airlines have stopped completely flying from Europe to Asian destinations, leaving the market open for Chinese counterparts.
Even though the EU is supposedly trying to normalize its business relations with China concerning the air traffic between the two, there is a contradiction between that and the attempts to challenge China’s involvement in the never-ending war in Ukraine. Accusing China of aiding Russia by allegedly providing military support sets the EU in an awkward position. Should it continue sanctioning Russia and China and hurting its economy, or revise its plan concerning its funding of the never-ending war in Ukraine, thus easing sanctions on the EU’s foreign trade partners?
Recent restrictive measures are beginning to disrupt people’s travel plans in Europe. Airlines have faced increased operating costs, leading them to reduce their flights from Europe to some Asian destinations. In contrast, Russian restrictions on airspace use do not affect Chinese airlines, which continue to operate normally. Consequently, their market share in European and UK markets has significantly grown, with some routes between Europe and China achieving traffic coverage of up to 100%.
One of the latest transportation research projects in 2024 examines the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on airfares in Europe. In its conclusions, the research by David Ennena and Florian Wozny from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) suggests that “the additional costs arising from the longer flight time and distance, such as fuel costs, are to some extent passed on to passengers.”
One could wonder who will win this “tit-for-tat” as regional disputes and instability start straining the European economy and its long-term foreign relations. How long EU leaders will continue this geopolitical power struggle depends on their readiness to sacrifice the EU economy for the benefit of a few.
