newstodate.aero
APR 28, 2005 (newstodate): On April 21, the Russian President and the president of the EU commission confirmed last year's agreement on the modernization of the en-route payments system for foreign carriers on the trans-Siberian routes by 2013.
The Russian ministry of transportation said that consultations will be conducted prior to the next Russia-EU summit on May 10.
The Europeans may however want to shorten the 2013 timeframe, sources say.
Russian carrier Aeroflot currently collects the en-route payments and is reportedly keeping a considerable slice itself, so an immediate change in the system would constitute a threat to the airline's profitability.
Analysts estimate that the total value of the en-route charges accrue to some USD 200 million annually.
The Russian ministry of transportation said that consultations will be conducted prior to the next Russia-EU summit on May 10.
The Europeans may however want to shorten the 2013 timeframe, sources say.
Russian carrier Aeroflot currently collects the en-route payments and is reportedly keeping a considerable slice itself, so an immediate change in the system would constitute a threat to the airline's profitability.
Analysts estimate that the total value of the en-route charges accrue to some USD 200 million annually.