newstodate.aero
Jan 28, 2011 (newstodate): The European Commission has today launched infringement procedures against Belgium, Denmark, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Sweden and the UK over their bilateral air service agreements with Russia.
The Commission is thus sending each of these member States a formal request for information, known as a 'letter of formal notice'.
The Commission is concerned that the agreements may hinder competition between European airlines and provide the basis for Siberian overflight charges that may be illegal under EU anti-trust rules.
Similar letters of formal notice were already sent in October 2010 to Austria, Finland, France and Germany, and the Commission is actively assessing the compliance with EU law of the remaining Member States' bilateral aviation agreements with Russia.
In the eyes of the Commission, the fact that European Union airlines have to pay to fly over Siberia on their way to many Asian destinations cannot only make the flights more expensive, but also lead to unfair competition between EU and non-EU airlines.
The Commission is thus sending each of these member States a formal request for information, known as a 'letter of formal notice'.
The Commission is concerned that the agreements may hinder competition between European airlines and provide the basis for Siberian overflight charges that may be illegal under EU anti-trust rules.
Similar letters of formal notice were already sent in October 2010 to Austria, Finland, France and Germany, and the Commission is actively assessing the compliance with EU law of the remaining Member States' bilateral aviation agreements with Russia.
In the eyes of the Commission, the fact that European Union airlines have to pay to fly over Siberia on their way to many Asian destinations cannot only make the flights more expensive, but also lead to unfair competition between EU and non-EU airlines.