International flights to be allowed only for airlines flying to Crimea – Vedomosti

Source: Photoshot/Vostock-Photo

The Vedomosti newspaper has told its readers that according to new rules, Russian airlines will not be granted approvals for international routes unless they participate in a program to provide subsidized transport to Crimea.

Air carriers applying for international flights must now meet certain requirements – they must hold international certificates, offer a high frequency of flights, have a minimal number of flight delays, a high level of safety, a modern fleet of aircraft, etc.

Now, according to Vedomosti, a new mandatory criterion will be added to this list of obligatory requirements – “participation in socially important projects on the territory of Russia”. Vedomosti suggests that “such projects should be understood as flights to Crimea." Experts from the publication note that the implementation of the already declared Crimean Flight Program “will lead airlines to suffer losses, and it would be good if this is somehow offset by some other preferences.”

Based on material published in Russian at Vedomosti.

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