Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the Civil Aviation Authorities Siren notification concerning the NOTAM issued on 25 February 2022 at 21:00 GMT was communicated to Highlands and Islands Airport.

The restrictions prohibit any aircraft registered in Russia, or any aircraft, - irrespective of the state registry - that is owned, chartered, or operated by a person connected with Russia, from using UK airspace.

On 25 February, in a tit for tat response, the Russian authorities banned aircraft owned, leased or operated by a person associated with the UK, or registered in the UK from landing at Russia's airports and from crossing its airspace.

We have remained engaged with NATS throughout and grateful to their work to reject flight plans submitted by Russian registered aircraft and working with us to investigate any potential breaches. NATS has confirmed to the Department that there have been two flights, operated by non-UK airlines, from UK to Russia since the 25 February.

Regarding notifications of the restrictions, a NOTAM was issued at 21:00 on 25 February informing all aviation stakeholders of the new strengthened restrictions. It is the responsibility of all aviation, including HIAL and Inverness Airport, to check NOTAMs. A further guidance was sent to the aviation industry, including HIAL, via the CAA Siren system on 26 February at 18:59. This provided the industry further clarification on the restrictions; however, the industry would have been fully aware restrictions were in place via the appropriate route, which was the NOTAM.