newstodate.aero
Jun 9, 2008 (newstodate): Air Berlin is caught in a dispute over air tranport relations between Germany and Russia, causing it to consider by-passing Russian air space on flights to China.
Air Berlin has long since applied for permits to fly over Russia, but Russia wants to trade the permit for allowances for Aeroflot Cargo and ABC to re-fuel in Germany on five weekly flights from Russia to USA and Canada.
Two such re-fuelling stop are now allowed by Germany that is willing to grant one more, still not meeting Russia's requirements.
Consequently, Russia has laid Air Berlin's application on ice.
In the autumn 2007 Russia succeeded in forcing Lufthansa Cargo to move its freighter hub from Astana, Kazakhstan, to Krasnoyarsk within six months after the airport's runway has been certified to ICAO Cat II standard, which will be obtained by the end of 2008.
Air Berlin has long since applied for permits to fly over Russia, but Russia wants to trade the permit for allowances for Aeroflot Cargo and ABC to re-fuel in Germany on five weekly flights from Russia to USA and Canada.
Two such re-fuelling stop are now allowed by Germany that is willing to grant one more, still not meeting Russia's requirements.
Consequently, Russia has laid Air Berlin's application on ice.
In the autumn 2007 Russia succeeded in forcing Lufthansa Cargo to move its freighter hub from Astana, Kazakhstan, to Krasnoyarsk within six months after the airport's runway has been certified to ICAO Cat II standard, which will be obtained by the end of 2008.