GORKI, August 05. /ITAR-TASS/. A response to sanctions several countries imposed on some Russian air carriers needs to be discussed, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday at the meeting with Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov and Deputy General Director of Russia’s leading air carrier Aeroflot Vadim Zingman.

In particular, Aeroflot’s 100% subsidiary, low-cost air carrier Dobrolyot, had to suspend flights on August 4 because of EU sanctions. Its fleet comprises two Boeing 737-800 NG and a SSJ-100; six more Boeing 737-800 NG are planned to be purchased by the end of 2014. Both Boeings are leased by BBAM Aircraft Leasing and Management.

Dobrolyot aircraft could be used by Aeroflot or its subsidiaries, a source close to Dobrolyot told ITAR-TASS adding Aeroflot signed the leasing agreement with a subleasing right. As the leaser revoked the permit, the planes go back to Aeroflot.

 

Taxes may be raised amid sanctions

Dmitry Medvedev said the government might debate a larger tax burden for higher budget revenues.

“To attain further growth we should focus on priorities and should make state expenditures more efficient,” Medvedev said, adding that “This is obvious; this goes without saying that we should discuss this at any economic meetings. On the other hand, we should also consider additional possibilities to increase budget revenues in different variants, even a larger tax burden, despite the fact that we should resort to this measure in the least case.”

The prime minister recalled that the government should develop a draft budget in mid-September and then should submit it in Russia’s parliament lower house State Duma.

Medvedev admitted that “the situation around the country imposes restrictions on us and demands a response to long-term challenges today; the things we could set aside and say we could do them in another way, they demand that we respond to these questions right now”. According to the prime minister, it is necessary to work both with the expenditure and income budgets. “Both ways are not easy, they should be thought over and they demand complex solutions,” Medvedev stated.