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Sabre Corp. Thursday said it terminated a global distribution agreement with Russia’s Aeroflot, crippling the country’s largest airline’s ability to sell seats. The Texas-based airline software giant provides ticket distribution and reservation services for carriers around the world. Sabre’s decision to end the distribution agreement means Aeroflot’s flights won’t show up on online travel agencies or other third-party sites. Sabre competitor Amadeus IT Group followed suit in suspending Aeroflot fares from its distribution platforms. “We will not sign any new contracts in Russia and we continue to evaluate our existing portfolio of work in Russia in parallel,” the Madrid-based company said. “At the same time, we continue to assess and evaluate the potential impact of international sanctions imposed on Russia and any counter-measures by Russia.” Aeroflot didn’t immediately comment. It is the latest measure that has isolated Russia’s airlines since the country invaded Ukraine last week. Boeing, General Electric and other aerospace manufacturers have suspended parts distribution and service agreements with Russia as countries, led by the US and European nations, impose sanctions in protest of Russia’s invasion. The US and Europe have cut Russia’s access to their airspace. “Sabre has been monitoring the evolving situation in Ukraine with increasing concern,” aid Sean Menke, Sabre’s CEO. “We are taking a stand against this military conflict. We are complying, and will continue to comply, with sanctions imposed against Russia.” Sabre has a separate agreement with Aeroflot that allows the airline to book passengers on the SabreSonic platform on the airline’s website.<br/>

An AeroMéxico flight from Toronto to Mexico City was diverted to Houston early Thursday morning to remove three passengers who appeared to be intoxicated. AeroMéxico Flight 617 landed at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston at 3:42 a.m., according to flight tracking site FlightAware. The passengers, two men and a woman, were told they weren't allowed to consume alcohol by a flight attendant, according to an account of the incident from the Houston Police Department, and were advised to finish their beverages. "But following that incident, all three individuals kept refusing to cover their faces with their masks, were rude, confrontational and appeared to be intoxicated," according to police department spokesman Kese Smith. The flight attendant alerted the captain, who diverted the plane to Houston. Police met the flight, and all three were removed from the aircraft. Two passengers were transported to Houston's Sobering Center, a facility where people can be transported without being arrested to avoid a criminal record for public intoxication. No charges were filed for either passenger. The third passenger was left in the care of Customs and Border Protection, Smith said, "as apparently he had a no-entry to the US stipulation, so obviously we can't take him to the Sobering Center as that would be entering the United States."<br/>