Russia is going to restrict overflights for EU airlines?

Russia may restrict or ban European airlines from flying over Siberia on busy Asian routes, a Russian newspaper reported, following Western sanctions which have grounded Russian carrier Dobrolet.

The Russian business daily Vedomosti quoted unnamed sources as saying the foreign and transport ministries were discussing possible action which might force EU airlines into long and costly detours and put them at a disadvantage to Asian rivals.

Shares in Russian carrier Aeroflot - which, according to Vedomosti, gets around USD$300 million a year in fees paid by foreign airlines flying over Siberia - dropped after the report.

The Transport Ministry and the civil aviation authority declined to comment on the possibility of responding to the European Union sanctions imposed due to the Ukraine crisis.

At the height of the Cold War, most Western airlines were barred from flying through Russian airspace to Asian cities, and instead had to operate via the Gulf or the US airport of Anchorage, Alaska on the polar route.

However, European carriers now fly over Siberia on their growing routes to countries such as China, Japan and South Korea, paying the fees which have been subject to a long dispute between Brussels and Moscow.

The newspaper quoted one source as saying a ban could cost carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways and Air France EUR€1 billion (USD$1.3 billion) over three months. Restrictions would lead to longer flights, higher fuel use and other additional costs.

However, state-controlled Aeroflot would also be hurt if it lost the fees.

Lufthansa said it operates about 180 flights a week through Siberian airspace but declined further comment, as did British Airways.

The EU widened its sanctions, imposed originally over Russia's annexation of Crimea in March, after last month's downing of a Malaysian airliner over territory in eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Moscow rebels.

Russian low-cost airline Dobrolet, run by Aeroflot, suspended all flights last week after its plane lease agreement was cancelled because the EU extended sanctions on the carrier for flying to Crimea.

Read More

Stavropol, Russia becomes Turkish Airlines 247th destination

Turkish Airlines is expanding its “already extensive network” with a tenth Russian destination.

The national carrier has added a thrice-weekly service (Tues, Fri & Sun) to Stavropol, the administrative centre of Stavropol Krai.

   

Its tenth destination in Russia, Stavropol joins Moscow, St Petersburg, Novosibirsk, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Rostov-on-Don, Ufa, Sochi and Astrakhan.  

Speaking exclusively to Routes News, Turkish Airlines’ Senior VP of Media Relations, Ali Genc, said: “We’re very pleased to announce the launch of another new route for Turkish Airlines, now flying to Stavropol in Russia.

“This news further demonstrates our commitment to growing the airline’s global network for our passengers.”

“Russia is increasingly important for travellers and Istanbul represents a convenient stop-over hub for those travelling there from Western Europe. The route supplements nine other Russian destinations which Turkish Airlines serves and we expect it to be a successful destination for company.”

Read More

Aeroflot Group’s full year 2013 net profit increases 41.9% to $203.3 million

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) today announced the consolidated IFRS financial results of the Aeroflot Group (Moscow) for the twelve months ending December 31, 2013. Key financial highlights:

• Full year 2013 net income increased 41.9% to RUB 7,334.7 mlm ($203.3 million);

• Full year 2013 revenue increased 15.0% to RUB 290,955.8 mlm ($9.135 billion);

Read More

Russian pilot fired for attempt to fly drunk

Russia's largest air carrier Aeroflot has fired a pilot who attempted to fly a plane from the Far East city of Blagoveshchensk to Moscow while drunk, the company said on Wednesday.

Earlier the Blagoveshchensk Airport reported that the flight to Moscow the day before was delayed for 10 hours because the pilot was "not quite right." Doctors confirmed that the man was inebriated. He was replaced by another pilot who had arrived from Moscow.

Read More