Latvia closes border airspace at night for 19 days

Latvian authorities have decided to close the country’s airspace at night for the next 19 days along its borders, including with Russia and Belarus.

The restriction applies to flights at altitudes of up to 6 km. Initially, the ban covered the border areas with Russia and Belarus, and was later extended to the borders with Estonia and Lithuania, TASS reports via the source in Latvian air traffic control.

The entire airspace remained closed until the evening of Thursday, September 18.

"The restrictions were then extended until 8:00 a.m. today, and now the ban has been extended from this evening until October 8, but with the proviso that it applies daily from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m.," the agency's source noted.

It added that flights in the designated zone at altitudes of up to 6 km may be permitted with separate permission from the country's military authorities. 

By Vugar Khalilov