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European aviation safety regulators on Wednesday said airlines could consider flying over parts of Crimea which were previously off-limits after Russia's annexation of the area, The Wall Street Journal reported.
Airlines can consider flights in the airspace around Simferopol using two designated routes, the Cologne, Germany-based European Aviation Safety Agency, or EASA, said in a note to carriers, according to The Wall Street Journal.
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 recognized country with authority over the airspace, Russia has claimed responsibility for the area, as reported.
Although the jurisdictional dispute persists, EASA said in a newly issued Safety Information Bulletin that "a robust framework" was in place for risk mitigation measures and that airlines could use information provided by Ukraine to plan flights.
It is noted that the limited approval of flights isn't just a political victory for Ukraine. Airlines pay fees for flights in foreign airspace, which is typically is used to pay air-traffic controllers and equipment upgrades.
EASA said it would continue to monitor the situation in the region and update safety advice if warranted.