newstodate.aero
Sep 09, 2009 (newstodate): Contrary to expectations, traffic on the trans-polar arctic routes over Siberia is increasing despite the general decline in world air traffic.
-The explanation may be that airlines' quest for cost savings are leading to the increased use of the arctic routes that save fuel and flying time on routes between North America and the North East Asian destinations, says Jens Petter Duestad, Avinor.
Till lately, traffic on the arctic routes was limited by the continued Russian practice of levying high over-flight charges on foreign carriers using the coveted lanes through Siberian airspace.
-In our meetings with our Russian partners from the Russian North West Region we focus entirely on operational issues, and we have the highest esteem for the Russian partners' professionalism. We fully share the same ambitions of opening safe and efficient traffic lanes for world aviation and also share a common view on civil aviation.
-We are actually in the process of further opening new traffic lanes for commercial airlines within the coming months, and all preparations are proceeding smoothly, says Mr Duestad.
Among the most frequent users of the trans-Siberian lanes opened so far are the US carriers Continental and Delta Air Lines, Air India and Emirates, and traffic volumes are steadily increasing.
-The explanation may be that airlines' quest for cost savings are leading to the increased use of the arctic routes that save fuel and flying time on routes between North America and the North East Asian destinations, says Jens Petter Duestad, Avinor.
Till lately, traffic on the arctic routes was limited by the continued Russian practice of levying high over-flight charges on foreign carriers using the coveted lanes through Siberian airspace.
-In our meetings with our Russian partners from the Russian North West Region we focus entirely on operational issues, and we have the highest esteem for the Russian partners' professionalism. We fully share the same ambitions of opening safe and efficient traffic lanes for world aviation and also share a common view on civil aviation.
-We are actually in the process of further opening new traffic lanes for commercial airlines within the coming months, and all preparations are proceeding smoothly, says Mr Duestad.
Among the most frequent users of the trans-Siberian lanes opened so far are the US carriers Continental and Delta Air Lines, Air India and Emirates, and traffic volumes are steadily increasing.