Russian Flag Carrier Aeroflot Tells Passengers to Read a Book or Meditate After Sanctions Hit Inflight Streaming Services

Aeroflot has told passengers to read a book or meditate after pulling its inflight entertainment services due to Western sanctions.

Taking to its Telegram social media page, the airline suggested that instead of watching inflight entertainment, passengers could take a look at the year and make a wish list or plan for the future.

The inflight entertainment services on Aeroflot's narrowbody fleet of A320 and Boeing 738 aircraft have been affected by the latest sanctions.

The airline was already working on a domestic solution to get around sanctions and promised that the streaming service would only be temporarily taken away.

Since Russia was hit with an array of sanctions by the United States, Europe and other countries, the country has come up with innovative ways to retain the Western brands that Russians have become accustomed to.

McDonald's has been reinvented as 'Vkusno i Tochka' with its own logo, while Starbucks was reborn as Stars Coffe shops.

After sanctions prevented aircraft manufacturers and suppliers from bringing spare parts into Russia, Aeroflot has continued to fly. The industry was worried about the maintenance of planes in Russia after domestic travel demand increased.

Because of the sanctions, we can't really keep an eye on our customers. It is creating some concerns on the safety side.

The Russian government has ordered five local companies to produce spare parts for Western-made commercial airliners in order to circumvent the sanctions that have been put in place.

Despite a number of international airspace restrictions, the Russian flag carrier continues to fly internationally and has been operating regular flights to popular destinations among Russia's elite.

The British government and the European Union have banned Aeroflot from flying in their airspace because of the airline's unsafe practices.

As an international flight attendant, Maszczynski worked at the most prominent airline in the Middle East and has been flying for a well-known European airline. He is an expert in passenger experience and human-centered stories. Some of the biggest names in journalism rely on Matt's industry insights, analysis and news coverage often.