EU Agrees on Trans-Siberian Flights

Transport ministers of 27 states of European Union clinched a deal in Brussels to make equal competitive rights of European airlines for Trans-Siberian flights, Kommersant reported.

In November 2006, European Union managed to win Russia's consent to abolish the fee for Siberia's transit to Eastern Asia starting from 2013.

What's more, no fee will be charged for new routes of European airlines opened before 2013. As a result, some competitive advantage has emerged for the airlines launching new routes.

So, the transport ministers of Europe agreed to set up a common fund, where the airlines launching new routes are to deduct the amount equivalent to the average monthly fees for the route less 5 percent. The money will go to Russia?s government to pay for Trans-Siberian flights.

In early March, the European Commission banned nine airlines of Russia from flying to Europe. The black list includes Aero Rent (Moscow), Tatarstan (Kazan), Atlant-Soyuz, Aviacon Zitotrans (Ekaterinburg), Center Avia (Moscow), Gazpromavia, Lukoil, Russkoe Nebo (Moscow) and UTair.

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