Support The Moscow Times!

Far East Authorities Complain of Ticket Price Hike After Transaero Exit

The government is considering expanding subsidies for far eastern flights to compensate for the loss.

Officials in Russia's Far Eastern Federal District have raised the alarm about rising airline ticket prices after the country's debt-laden airline Transaero stopped servicing the region, the Kommersant newspaper reported Monday.

In a meeting with Presidential Envoy to the Far East Yury Trutnev, representatives of the Transportation Ministry and rival carriers on Friday, local authorities said the void left behind by the departure of Transaero, Russia's second-largest airline, had not been filled and complained of high ticket prices and fewer flights.

The government is considering expanding subsidies for far eastern flights to compensate for the loss, the report said, citing a statement by Trutnev.

Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, earlier suspended all Transaero ticket sales.

The troubled private carrier has been hit by reduced travel demand and an increase in the cost of airplane leasing agreements since the sharp devaluation of the ruble.

Two takeover deals by rivals S7 Airlines and Aeroflot have fallen through, leaving the airline teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

Until recently Transaero operated flights to 260 Russian and international destinations, and accounted for 14 percent of the domestic aviation market.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

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 every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more