UPDATE 2: Russia annuls Saratov Airlines’ air operator certificate from Wed

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MOSCOW/SARATOV, May 30 (PRIME) -- The air operator certificate of Saratov Airlines has been annulled from Wednesday and the Transport Ministry is working on carrying the passengers of the failed airline, according to a statement seen by PRIME.

“The airline’s air operator certificate was annulled on May 30, 2018 after extraordinary checks by the Federal Air Transport Agency organized after the catastrophe of February 11, 2018 with the An-148 jet of Saratov Airlines, in correspondence with the federal aviation rules, after the allotted time for elimination of the detected objections,” the ministry said.

The authorities are working with Aeroflot, Siberia Airlines, Ural Airlines, UTair, UVT Aero, RusLine, NordStar, Nordwind Airlines, Yakutia Airlines, Yamal Airlines, Red Wings and Nordavia to carry the passengers of Saratov Airlines.

The Federal Air Transport Agency said that Russian airlines must carry 8,700 passengers of Saratov Airlines on flights scheduled for dates through June 13.

A spokesperson for Aeroflot told PRIME that the company is ready to continue regular flights to Saratov if the airport of the city is not closed by the shareholders as Saratov Airlines, the largest airline using the facility, goes out of business.

Aeroflot also asked for two additional flights a day to the city, the spokesperson said. “Aeroflot will participate in carrying the passengers of Saratov Airlines if two additional flights are approved.”

A spokesperson for Saratov Airlines said that the airport of Saratov will continue its operations but will change the schedule from Friday. The airport is located in the center of Saratov, a new airport is planned to be launched in the middle of 2019.

Saratov Airlines said that it will return the ticket cost to passengers under the claim procedure. A spokesperson of the airline said that the company had stopped its operating activities.

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