European air safety body backs resuming commercial flights over Crimea

European aviation safety regulators said Wednesday airlines could consider flying over parts of Crimea which were previously off-limits after Russia’s annexation of the area. Airlines can consider flights in the airspace around Simferopol using two designated routes, EASA said in a note to carriers. The safety agency had advised airlines to avoid the airspace over Crimea because of conflicting jurisdictional claims between Ukraine and Russia. Although Ukraine is the only recognised country with authority over the airspace, Russia has claimed responsibility for the area. Ukraine last summer argued some flights over the area should be approved, though EASA initially said it wasn’t convinced safety concerns were sufficiently addressed. <br/>