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4 air carriers to vie for St. Petersburg-London flights

MOSCOW, January 29. /ITAR-TASS/. Russian air carriers Ural Airlines, Transaero, Vim-Avia and UTair will vie for the right to make St. Petersburg-London flights, according to the federal air transport agency, Rosaviation.

Air carrier Rossiya now has a right to make the flights but runs no direct flights on the route.

All candidates offer 7 flights a week, Ural Airlines - on Airbus A319, A320 and A321, Transaero - on Tu-214, Boeing 737, 767, 777 and 747. Vim-Avia pledges to provide flights on Boeing 757-200, and UTair - on Boeing 737, 757, 767, Airbus A 321 and CRJ-200.

According to the current restriction of two carriers per route, a commission will make a decision on January 30.

The meeting will also choose carriers for St. Petersburg - Helsinki flight claimed by Rossiya and UTair, Samara - Istanbul (Nordwind Airlines, Orenburg Airlines and Kogalymavia) and Perm - Istanbul (Nordwind Airlines and Kogalymavia).

Rossiya and UTair will compete to make flights from St. Petersburg to Amsterdam, while Moscow - Larnaca will be claimed by Globus, Nordwind, S7, Transaero, Ural Airlines. Right to Moscow - Paphos flights may become available for Globus, Nordwind Airlines, S7 or Ural Airlines.

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