Neradko: flights to new regions will not be operated yet

The head of the Federal Air Transport Agency, Alexander Neradko, said that flights to the airports of new regions – the DPR, LPR, Zaporozhye and Kherson regions – will not be operated yet “for well-known reasons.” About it informs “RIA News”.

“Air communication to airfields in the new territories will not be carried out for known reasons. The priority plans for restoration are the Mariupol airport, in the future – the following airports, ”he said during a round table in the Federation Council.

Neradko added that projects for the reconstruction of airports and landing sites in affiliated entities have already been prepared by the Federal Air Transport Agency and the Ministry of Transport.

After the start of the military operation in Ukraine, the EU countries, the United States and others imposed a number of blocking sanctions on Russian state structures, in particular, against the Federal Air Transport Agency. The European Union, the United States and Canada have closed airspace for Russian airlines. The UK banned Aeroflot and Russian private jets from flying. In response, Russia imposed flight restrictions on aircraft from 36 countries without special permission from the Federal Air Transport Agency or the Foreign Ministry.

January 31 Neradko in an interview RBC declaredthat Western sanctions, including a ban on the supply of aircraft and components to Russia, as well as the closure of the European market for Russian airlines, are aimed at destroying the aviation industry in Russia. At the same time, Russia continues to interact with the aviation authorities of friendly countries, as well as “informal contacts” with partners from states that have imposed sanctions.

On February 24, 2022, the Federal Air Transport Agency introduced a temporary flight restriction regime in 11 regions in the south and in the central part of Russia. These are Anapa, Bryansk, Belgorod, Gelendzhik, Voronezh, Kursk, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-Don, Lipetsk, Simferopol and Elista. Flights to the subject airports have been restricted due to security concerns.