Western airlines could be banned from overflying Siberia in tit-for-tat measure over sanctions

Russian lawmakers are considering limiting or banning transit flights across Siberia on the Europe-Asia route, according to a high-ranking government official.

A report was carried on Tuesday by Vedomosti newspaper and cited by other major Russian media including RIA Novosti. 

Consultations are believed to have been held by the Transport Ministry and Foreign Ministry over curbs on Western airlines which have dozens of flights daily using Siberian airspace.

'Any unfriendly measures taken by the EU, including that concerning air transportation, will be considered and not left without the response,' a diplomatic source told Vedomosti. 'To fly to Asia European airlines presently use the shortest Trans-Siberian route and pay for it to Russian Aeroflot. According to the source close to the company, Aeroflot receives less than $300 million annually from foreign airlines,' reported RIA Novosti.

A subsidiary of state-owned Aeroflot airline, Dobrolet, launched its first commercial flights from the Russian capital to Crimea's main city Simferopol in June. 

In July, the air company started selling tickets for flights to cities across Russia, including Volgograd, Perm, Samara, Ufa, Yekaterinburg and Kazan - but it was included on a list of EU sanctions unveiled on 30 July, added the news agency.

The EU alleged Dobrolet performed flights to Crimea, facilitating the former Ukrainian region~s integration with Russia.

The possibility of overflying curbs was first examined after the initial round of sanctions but the Dobrolet move has brought the matter into sharp focus again. 

Examples of Western airlines overflying Siberia are British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa. Their costs could spiral if they needed to find alternative routes avoiding Russian air space.