newstodate.aero
Jun 24, 2014 (newstodate): The final solution to the issue between EU and Russia over charges for commercial air traffic on the Sibir lanes is still pending.
-In January 2014, the Russian Vice-Minister of Transport Okulov committed to negotiate the necessary changes in the bilateral agreements with the EU Member States and to conclude this process by mid-July. Unfortunately, so far the situation as such has not changed and EU carriers still pay for overflying Russian airspace on routes to the Far East, says Klaus Winkler, European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, Directorate Aviation and International Transport Affairs.
The charges, estimated to be around USD500 mio annually, are collected by Aeroflot that retains some USD300 mio, returning the remainder to Russia's Federal Air Navigation Authority and the Federal Air Traffic Agency.
In 2006, the EU commission negotiated an agreement with Russia to freeze overflight charges from 2010 and fully abolishing them by 2013 through a gradual process.
Since then, the Russian state has however refused to ratify the agreement, and no immediate solution is still in sight.
-In January 2014, the Russian Vice-Minister of Transport Okulov committed to negotiate the necessary changes in the bilateral agreements with the EU Member States and to conclude this process by mid-July. Unfortunately, so far the situation as such has not changed and EU carriers still pay for overflying Russian airspace on routes to the Far East, says Klaus Winkler, European Commission Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport, Directorate Aviation and International Transport Affairs.
The charges, estimated to be around USD500 mio annually, are collected by Aeroflot that retains some USD300 mio, returning the remainder to Russia's Federal Air Navigation Authority and the Federal Air Traffic Agency.
In 2006, the EU commission negotiated an agreement with Russia to freeze overflight charges from 2010 and fully abolishing them by 2013 through a gradual process.
Since then, the Russian state has however refused to ratify the agreement, and no immediate solution is still in sight.