MOSCOW, Feb 26 (FT) - Russian airlines were cut off from an increasing swath of European airspace on Saturday, as tit-for-tat flight bans disrupted commercial aviation and forced some planes on long detours.

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia all announced bans on Russian airlines using their airspace or landing at their airports, joining the UK, Bulgaria, Czech Republic and Poland in sealing off their skies. The bans apply to all Russian airlines, including flag carrier Aeroflot.

Kaja Kallas, Estonia’s prime minister, said: “There is no place for planes of the aggressor state in democratic skies.”

Moscow earlier this week warned it would retaliate against any such restrictions. As of Saturday afternoon, the Kremlin had banned airlines from the UK, Bulgaria, Poland and Czech Republic from flying over or landing on its territory.

The bans from Baltic states and eastern European governments leave Russian airlines with dwindling options for flight paths into western Europe.