"Aeroflot, Russia’s largest airline and among the top 20 largest airlines in the world. It is majority owned by the Russian state, and is carrying on business in the transport sector, which is of strategic significance to the Russian Government. Aeroflot not only provides services for the Russian Government, but also generates an important source of revenue for the Kremlin," the UK authorities say in sanction profiles of the document.
The application of sanctions against Ural Airlines was also explained by the fact that the company is "carrying on business in the transport sector, which is of strategic significance" for the Russian Federation.
In its statement the UK Foreign Office states that thanks to the new restrictions Aeroflot, Ural Airlines and Rossiya Airlines "will now be unable to sell their unused, lucrative landing slots at UK airports - preventing Russia from cashing in on an estimated 50 million pounds ($62 mln). "
