All news

Russian authorities ready for talks on lifting ban on flights between Russia, Ukraine

The Russian aviation authorities said on Monday Ukrainian airlines had turned for permission to fly in the 2015/2016 winter navigation period

MOSCOW, October 20. /TASS/. The Russian aviation authorities are ready for holding consultations on lifting a ban on flights between Russia and Ukraine, Deputy Transport Minister Valery Okulov said on Tuesday.

"We have sent three proposals - two from the Transport Ministry and one from the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) on holding the consultations," he said on the sidelines of the Wings of Russia aviation forum.

"This is stipulated in an agreement on air communication, which has a standard phrase that all the issues should be resolved by way of aviation authorities’ consultations in case of conflict situations. Ukraine has made its decision [on banning flights by Russian airlines] but has not held consultations. That is why, the first thing we are proposing is that we should hold consultations," he said.

The Russian aviation authorities are ready to hold consultations at any time and in any place, if the Ukrainian side responds to the proposal, Okulov said.

"There are shifts in this matter and it is becoming warmer because it is completely wrong to disrupt air communication," the Russian deputy transport minister said.

Rosaviatsia said on Monday Ukrainian airlines had turned for permission to fly in the 2015/2016 winter navigation period.

Specifically, Atlasjet Ukraine airline has requested to open air navigation for flights along the Kiev-Moscow, Odessa-Moscow, and Kiev-St. Petersburg routes while UTair Ukraine has asked permission for flights between Kiev and Moscow, Lviv and Moscow.

In turn, Rosaviatsia has proposed to Ukraine’s State Aviation Service to immediately hold negotiations in any place suitable for the Ukrainian side.

Earlier, about 20 Russian airlines were included in the Ukrainian authorities’ sanctions lists, which will come into force from October 25.

Kiev’s blacklist includes Russia’s largest airline Aeroflot, which makes flights to Kiev, Kharkiv and Odessa, and also its three subsidiaries comprising air companies Rossiya, Donavia and Orenburg Airlines.

The same blacklist includes Russia’s once second largest airline Transaero, which has come under Aeroflot’s operational control. Transaero makes flights to Kiev and Odessa.

The Ukrainian aviation authorities’ blacklist also includes Siberia Airline (S7), the third largest air carrier in Russia, and Urals Airlines placed 5th. Russia’s UTair is the sole airline outside Ukraine’s sanctions.

In response, Russia’s Rosaviatsia has notified the Ukrainian authorities of introducing a ban on the flights to Russia from October 25.

Ukraine’s largest air company, International Airlines of Ukraine, as well as Motor Sich airline have confirmed they have received the notification. The document was also sent to the Ukrainian YanAir airline.

Russia has taken these measures after Ukraine has slapped sanctions against Russian airlines.