Tata Group-owned Air India has suspended its flights from Delhi to Moscow until further notice after its international insurance underwriters flagged security concerns. With the suspension of the twice-weekly non-stop flights, India and Russia have no direct air connectivity at present.
The Russian Embassy in India has issued a statement saying Air India has stopped selling tickets on the Delhi-Moscow route and that the resumption flights between the two cities remain uncertain at the moment.
"According to the Air India office, funds for previously purchased tickets for cancelled flights can be returned to passengers in full. In connection with the abolition by the Government of India restrictions on international air traffic, it is possible to freely use transit routes to Russia through Tashkent, Istanbul, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and other available destinations," the statement said.
Air India renews insurance for its flights every financial year beginning April 1. Reports said the airline’s renewed insurance contract prohibits its flights from landing in and taking off from Russia and Ukraine.
Following the Russian invasion on Ukraine, the western countries have imposed sanctions on Moscow targeting its aviation sector. In a tit-for-tat move, Russia has also closed its airspace to airlines from 36 countries.
Meanwhile, India, on Thursday clarified that the country is not under any pressure from the Western nations over its trade ties with Russia.
During a media briefing, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "Don't think there is any such pressure. Talks of sanctions going on but it's not on entire trade. A lot of trade is going on, trade of oil too. Our focus is to maintain and stabilise our established economic relations with Russia."
