Austrian Airlines could be blocked from flying to Russia later this spring over a dispute about the carrier’s nationality. ATW Online writes “Russian authorities argue that based on current bilateral agreements with Austria, (Austrian) no longer is considered a domestic airline following its acquisition by Lufthansa.” So far, Russian authorities have extended Austrian’s flight rights through March 31. ATW notes that Austrian flies 48 flights a week to six Russian destinations and flies through Russian airspace on routes to Beijing and Tokyo. In a previous story on the subject, ATW writes: “A Star Alliance source told this website that Russian officials are unhappy with the increasing presence of Lufthansa and its subsidiaries in the Russian market.”
Source: ATW
By: MSR777 - 10th February 2010 at 18:56
Short memory from a country that used to have the largest airline in the world.;)
Indeed so but the world has changed much since those days. Sadly Aeroflot is a mere shadow of the Goliath that it once was. IMO in these days of “free market” Stalinism (no pun intended) the Russians may well have to bite the bullet on this one and come to terms with the current airline operating environment, or risk financial damage to this smaller and less imposing Aeroflot. I do suspect however that the ghosts of Aeroflot Soviet Airlines still walk the corridors of its younger and smaller sibling 😉
By: zoot horn rollo - 10th February 2010 at 18:48
Am I missing something?
How can Aeroflot and various other russian carriers be allowed so many services into Germany and Austria if the national carriers of those countries have limitations placed on them if they want to fly into russia?
Surely something like this has to work both ways, no?
It’s all to do with inter governmental bilateral air service agreements (where they still exist) which specify which particular carriers of the countries involved are allowed to operate. Is Austrian Airlines still an Austrian owned carrier? Presumably not, therefore the Russians have a point.
By: tenthije - 10th February 2010 at 18:17
Am I missing something?
How can Aeroflot and various other russian carriers be allowed so many services into Germany and Austria if the national carriers of those countries have limitations placed on them if they want to fly into russia?
Surely something like this has to work both ways, no?
Traffic rights are given by the the country. So Austria can give traffic rights to airlines from Austria. The problem here is, that Austrian Airlines is not an Austrian airline. They are majority owned by Lufthansa, making Austrian technically a German airline that happens to have its main base in Austria. Russia is doing nothing wrong, short of being an ass… and that has never been illegal in any jurisdiction.
By: abutcher1985 - 10th February 2010 at 18:02
Am I missing something?
How can Aeroflot and various other russian carriers be allowed so many services into Germany and Austria if the national carriers of those countries have limitations placed on them if they want to fly into russia?
Surely something like this has to work both ways, no?
By: Newforest - 10th February 2010 at 07:52
ATW writes: “A Star Alliance source told this website that Russian officials are unhappy with the increasing presence of Lufthansa and its subsidiaries in the Russian market.”
Short memory from a country that used to have the largest airline in the world.;)
By: Grey Area - 10th February 2010 at 07:04
If the Austrian authorities were feeling particularly bloody-minded, they could respond by insisting that Aeroflot must only use Russian-registered aircraft that conform to current EC noise rules on flights that enter Austrian airspace. 🙂
Sign In
February 9, 2010 at 9:32 pm