Support The Moscow Times!

Air Traffic Between Moscow, Kiev Liberalized

Russia's Transportation Ministry and the State Aviation Administration of Ukraine agreed to lift restrictions on designated airlines and on the number of flights between Moscow and Kiev.

In addition, Russia agreed to let Ukraine make unrestricted use of the trans-Siberian route.

According to a letter posted on the website of Russia's Air Transportation Agency, the agreement will come into effect immediately but will be considered temporary until appropriate amendments are made to the intergovernmental agreement on air connections, signed in 1994.

The agency's letter dates back to Oct. 30, but it wasn't made public until Tuesday.

There are 14 daily flights between Moscow and Kiev operated by five airlines: Aeroflot, S7 Airlines, Transaero, Ukraine International Airlines and UTair.

Last summer, the two countries agreed to liberalize air traffic on all routes between them other than those between their capitals.

The quota for the Moscow-Kiev route was then increased from 49 flights to 56 flights a week for each of the countries, but as a result of the agreement, the quota will be abolished.

… we have a small favor to ask.

As you may have heard, The Moscow Times, an independent news source for over 30 years, has been unjustly branded as a "foreign agent" by the Russian government. This blatant attempt to silence our voice is a direct assault on the integrity of journalism and the values we hold dear.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. Our commitment to providing accurate and unbiased reporting on Russia remains unshaken. But we need your help to continue our critical mission.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just 2. It's quick to set up, and you can be confident that you're making a significant impact every month by supporting open, independent journalism. Thank you.

Continue

Read more