Rosaviatsia: foreign companies increased the volume of transit flights through the Russian Federation by 8%

Foreign airlines have increased the volume of transit flights through Russian airspace by 8% since January 2023, the press service of the Federal Air Transport Agency reported. The leaders in increasing flights were Chinese airlines, the Indian carrier Air India and the Belarusian airline Belavia.

According to the Federal Air Transport Agency, which leads TASS, South-Eastern and Asian airlines, using the shortest routes through the territory of Russia, also began to gradually increase the volume of air traffic.

Chinese airlines fly most actively – about 60 flights a day, Air India – 20 flights a day and Belavia – 16 flights a day, the press service noted. Vietnamese airline Hang Khong Viet Nam and Philippine Air Lines have also started transit flights through Russian airspace.

“By operating transit flights through Russia, foreign airlines from the South-East and Asia have significant economic advantages over airlines from unfriendly countries, whose flights to/from Russia are currently suspended due to sanctions. It is expected that in the summer schedule IATA 2023 (International Air Transport Association. – Kommersant) the number of daily flights will be increased, ”the Rosaviatsia noted.

At the end of February, European states imposed a ban on civil aircraft flights from Russia. As a response, the Federal Air Transport Agency imposed a restriction on the operation of flights by air carriers of 36 states. At the same time, IATA CEO William Walsh declaredthat in the event of the end of the military conflict in Ukraine, the West should prepare for the resumption of flights through Russia.

According to Kommersant, the Federal Air Transport Agency is also considering the possibility of lifting all restrictions on Belavia flights to Russia. At the same time, the only benefit for Russian companies in the industry is the increase in traffic from the regions to Minsk for transfer to Georgia, but the main flow from Moscow will fly through Yerevan.

More details – in the publication “Kommersant” “Belarusian air terminal”.

Milena Kostereva