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BERLIN_Russia has banned Lufthansa Cargo flights over its territory, disrupting service on 49 connections a week from Frankfurt to Astana, Kazakhstan, a spokesman for Deutsche Lufthansa AG confirmed Wednesday.

"Since October 28, we are flying around Russian airspace," Peter Schneckenleitner said. "Each roundtrip takes an extra three hours and we are having significant delays."

Lufthansa passenger flights were not affected by the ban.

He said the reason for the ban was a "disagreement with Russia about the royalties it charges for overflights" above its territory.

A spokesman for the Russian Transport Ministry denied that Lufthansa Cargo flights had been banned, saying the company had been flying over Russia under a temporary license that expired Oct. 27.

"If they want to resume flights they have to formally apply for new permission," said Timur Khikmatov.

Khikmatov said that there are no issues between Russian authorities and the German carrier. "I do not understand this hysteria on their part."

The Russian airline Aeroflot Cargo reported in the meantime, that its cargo flights had been briefly banned from flying to Germany.