Business Daily How global conflict's changing air travel
Jan 26, 2026
Dr Victoria Ivankova, aviation management researcher focused on routing and emissions. Gilbert Ott, travel expert who writes about fares and loyalty. They discuss expanding conflict-driven airspace closures, how routes now detour over poles, rising fuel use and costs, carriers cutting services, and which hubs and routes are most vulnerable.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Flying Over The North Pole To Avoid Siberia
- Rick Kelsey describes flying over the North Pole from Tokyo to London to avoid Russian airspace.
- He notes the route feels mesmeric but exists to bypass closed Siberian corridors.
Airspace Closures Are Unprecedented
- Closed or restricted airspace now covers about 18 million km², the largest segregation since WWII.
- Verisk Maplecroft and aviation data show conflict-driven rerouting is reshaping global long-haul flight patterns.
Detours Add Hours And Costs
- Bans on flying over Russia and Ukraine typically add one to two hours to long-haul routes.
- Lufthansa and other carriers report measurable cost impacts from these detours on their networks.