Urgent notice regarding airspace restriction related to Russia-Ukraine tension issued

The document stated that the CAAV received a letter dated February 24 from the European and North Atlantic (EUR/NAT) Office of the International Civil  Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regarding the closure of the airspace over Moldova, Ukraine, and part of the flight information region (FIR) of Russia.

This comes after Ukrainian authorities announced the closure of the airspace within the FIRs Dnipro (UKDV) Simferopol (UKFV), Lviv (UKLV), Odesa (UKOV), and Kyiv (UKBV). Meanwhile, Russian authorities also announced the closure of a part of the airspace within the Rostov (URRV) FIR. In addition, Moldova's airspace is also closed.

The ICAO stated that it will continue to co-ordinate with relevant authorities and other countries in the region to keep a close watch on future developments, especially those that may impact flight safety.

Dinh Viet Thang, director of CAAV, said that Russia and Ukraine had released telegrams announcing the closure of  airports, the restriction and closure of some airspace and air routes, especially in the area adjacent to the northeast of Ukraine, citing a report from the Vietnam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM).

As a means of ensuring absolute safety for flight operations to, from, and over the territory of Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova, the CAAV has requested that airlines carefully examine the ICAO's letter. They should also keep updated on aviation notices on the restriction or closure of airspace, the closure of airports and air routes of Russia, Ukraine, and other related countries in the region.

The airlines should also review flight routes and choose alternative routes (if necessary) based on their operation plans to ensure that their flights avoid closed and restricted areas and airways.

They should not choose alternate airports such as those which have been announced as closed, along with those located near any affected airspace, Thang added.