Russia's flagship airline Aeroflot said Thursday that it is no longer offering in-flight film, television and music streaming to passengers following Western sanctions and business withdrawals over the Kremlin’s military incursion in Ukraine.
In a statement on its official Telegram channel, Aeroflot said foreign companies had stopped providing streaming services to the airline.
Aeroflot said the disruption was “temporary” and encouraged passengers to do “a digital detox,” “take a nap” or “read a book” during flights.
The company also added it was working “on a domestic solution.”
Russia’s airline sector, including Aeroflot, was one of the first to be affected by the economic fallout and Western sanctions from the war in Ukraine.
Aeroflot was forced to suspend all flights abroad after the European Union and the United Kingdom banned Russian airlines from their airspace.
And Western sanctions have banned the sale of spare aircraft parts and technology to Russia.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
