The ban on the mainland

The Russian government considers the opportunity to limit or completely prohibit the transit flights of European airlines from Europe to Asia through the territory of Russia. This was reported by Vedomosti with reference to informed sources.

According to the source, "close to the participants in the discussion," such an offer appeared shortly after the first sanctions against Russia introduced the European Union. But the suspension of the Vobralet Lawkoster flight and Ukraine on Russian airlines a fine of $ 8.6 million for flights to Crimea require an answer, he noted.

Currently, consultations are held on this issue at the Ministry of Transport and the Foreign Ministry, another source noted. The final decision will be made by the government. "Any unfriendly measures of the EU, including in the field of air transportation, will be studied and will not remain unanswered," the source close to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

“There were no such proposals from the departments,” Natalya Timakova, spokeswoman for the head of government, told the publication.

Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov also does not know about the discussion of such measures. “We are talking about good income. All for” and “against” should be taken into account, so as not to be like the Americans and Europeans, in fact, hitting his head with a hammer, ”he told Vedomosti.

The use of Trans -Siberian routes reduces the flight time from Europe to Asia by at least an hour. The operation of these air corridors began in Soviet times. Since then, Aeroflot receives payments from foreign airlines. According to the publication, we are talking about the amount of $ 300 million a year.

In the case of the disappearance of this source of income, Aeroflot will not be able to fulfill other orders of the authorities, said the interlocutor of the publication close to the board of directors of the company. This is, in particular, about the operation of Sukhoi Superjet, social projects, non -accessible routes.

According to Vedomosti, a source close to the counterparty of large European airlines, the main payers are Lufthansa, British Airways, Air France aware of the problem. They are concerned about possible losses, which are estimated at more than a billion euros in three months of sanctions.

From Monday, the budget carrier in the Aeroflot company Dobrolet has suspended flights in connection with the application of economic sanctions imposed by the European Union in relation to the carrier. Several European counterparties informed the companies to refuse to fulfill their obligations. In particular, the effect of leasing, maintenance and insurance of aircraft, as well as the provision of air navigation information, is canceled.

On July 30, Dobralet got into the EU sanctions list due to flights to the occupied Crimea. “Since the illegal annexation of Crimea, Dobrolet has been performed by Moscow -Simferopol flights, thus ensuring the integration of Crimea into Russia and undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” the EU document explained.