Aeroflot has been affected by western sanctions imposed after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Desmond Boylan/Reuters
Russian airline Aeroflot has been forced to remove in-flight entertainment on some services.
The airline suggested passengers read, meditate, or take a nap while it works on a “domestic solution.”
Aeroflot has managed to keep flying despite western sanctions increasingly hobbling operations.
Aeroflot has suggested its passengers take a “digital detox” after sanctions forced the Russian airline to remove in-flight entertainment on some of its jets.
In a statement released on the social media app Telegram, the Kremlin-backed airline told customers that in-flight entertainment would be temporarily unavailable on its Airbus 320/321 and Boeing 737 aircraft, suggesting the effect of western sanctions were to blame.
“The refusal of foreign suppliers to provide this service will soon not be an obstacle to the habitual viewing of interesting films and listening to favorite tracks during the flight,” the airline wrote.
Aeroflot didn’t say why it couldn’t offer entertainment, and it doesn’t appear to have affected the airline’s larger aircraft. The post did promise passengers that a “domestic solution” would be found by the new year.
The airline offered alternative suggestions for passengers to occupy themselves on flights, such as reading a book, cleaning up photos in their phone galleries, and even meditating.
It added that passengers could use the time to “take stock of the year,” leave a review of their experience on the flight, or have a nap.
According to its website, the airline offered new releases such as “House of Gucci” and “Ghostbusters: Afterlife” on its flights in October.
Aeroflot has kep flying despite sanctions affecting its operations following Russia’s war in Ukraine.
In August, Reuters reported the airline, which flies Airbus and Boeing planes, was forced to strip some aircraft for spare parts as sanctions meant it could no longer buy parts.
After halting flights to several international destinations because of flight path restrictions, Aeroflot resumed flights to Thailand, India, and the Maldives in October. Phuket, Thailand, experienced a surge of Russian holidaymakers in November.