newstodate.aero
May 18, 2018 (newstodate): Media reports about Russian obstructions to Icelandic airlines' flights to Asia through Russian airspace are vehemently refuted by Russia's Ministry of Transportation.
A representative of Russia's Ministry of Transport has confirmed to Interfax that within the framework of consultations in September 2017, Icelandic airlines "noted their interest in starting flights to points in South-East Asia."
-As a result, two Icelandic carriers were granted rights to fly to Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Hong Kong and Shanghai using the Trans-Siberian Route System on standard operating conditions, the Ministry says.
Icelandic sources, however, claim that Russia has blocked the flights in retaliation to European sanctions enforced after Russia's participation in the Ukrainian conflict and its annexation of the Crimea.
Not true, is the Russian version: even a year after the consultations, no Icelandic carrier has actually applied for the trans-Sibir flights which indicates that there is actually no interest on the part of the Icelandic airlines to actually operate on the routes.
One Icelandic carrier sitting impatiently on the fence to start flights to Asia via Russian airspace is WOW Air.
WOW Air sees potentials for Keflavik Airport to become a new aviation hub connecting destinations in North America, Europe and Asia, building on the undisputed successes over the years by Icelandair and WOW Air in building up transfer traffic between North America and Europe.
WOW Air's first move towards Asia is the opening of flights to Delhi from December 6, 2018, with five weekly rotations operated with new Airbus A330-900neo aircraft.
This route does not, however, touch on the trans-Sibir airspace..
A representative of Russia's Ministry of Transport has confirmed to Interfax that within the framework of consultations in September 2017, Icelandic airlines "noted their interest in starting flights to points in South-East Asia."
-As a result, two Icelandic carriers were granted rights to fly to Tokyo, Beijing, Seoul, Hong Kong and Shanghai using the Trans-Siberian Route System on standard operating conditions, the Ministry says.
Icelandic sources, however, claim that Russia has blocked the flights in retaliation to European sanctions enforced after Russia's participation in the Ukrainian conflict and its annexation of the Crimea.
Not true, is the Russian version: even a year after the consultations, no Icelandic carrier has actually applied for the trans-Sibir flights which indicates that there is actually no interest on the part of the Icelandic airlines to actually operate on the routes.
One Icelandic carrier sitting impatiently on the fence to start flights to Asia via Russian airspace is WOW Air.
WOW Air sees potentials for Keflavik Airport to become a new aviation hub connecting destinations in North America, Europe and Asia, building on the undisputed successes over the years by Icelandair and WOW Air in building up transfer traffic between North America and Europe.
WOW Air's first move towards Asia is the opening of flights to Delhi from December 6, 2018, with five weekly rotations operated with new Airbus A330-900neo aircraft.
This route does not, however, touch on the trans-Sibir airspace..