Detour Around Russia Raises Fuel Burn and Emissions for Europe‑Northeast Asia Flights
Airlines forced to avoid Russian airspace are burning more fuel and emitting more CO₂, putting climate targets at risk.
Airlines that cannot or choose not to fly through Russian airspace are now consuming noticeably more fuel on Europe‑to‑Northeast Asia routes. The longer paths, a direct result of Russia’s 2022 closure of its airspace to carriers from the EU and the U.K., have added roughly a third to the flight time for carriers such as Finnair.
According to an analysis by Skailark, the fuel burn on identical routes and aircraft types rose by 13.8% for airlines barred from Russian airspace. The study compared data from 2019 with figures collected between March 2025 and June 2026.
The increased fuel consumption generates an additional 1.53 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. That amount represents about 12% of the total emissions from the affected flights.
Finnair, which has seen its Northeast Asia services lengthened, says it remains committed to meeting its climate objectives despite the operational setback.
Airlines from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan have largely stayed away from Russian airspace for safety reasons, further limiting the pool of carriers that can use the shorter routes.
The situation creates both a climate challenge and a competitive disadvantage for airlines forced onto longer tracks, as they must balance higher operating costs with their environmental pledges.
