UPDATE: Regulator says may ban charter flights over massive delays

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ULYANOVSK/SKOLKOVO, Moscow Region/SOCHI, Jun 7 (PRIME) -- Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency may ban charter flights in case of massive delays and has scheduled a meeting with charter airlines for Thursday, Director Alexander Neradko told reporters on Wednesday.

“We have a number of charter airlines, and we will hold a meeting with them tomorrow, where we will once again warn them that if there are such massive flight delays, we will have to announce it to passengers. We will just have to ban charter flights,” he said.

The transport agency has no right to limit the flight certificate of VIM-Avia, which has been delaying flights massively from various airports recently, because of the delays, Neradko also said. The agency cannot also recommend that the airline revise its route network and schedule, as the current legislation prohibits interference into airline’s operations. Nevertheless, the regulator recommended that VIM-Avia cut its routes already in mid-May, he added.

The situation with transportation of VIM-Avia’s passengers is under control, Neradko said.

“We have an emergency response center operating at the Federal Tourism Agency, our specialists are working… We keep control over VIM-Avia’s transportation, first of all these are large Russian resort destinations – Sochi, Mineralnye Vody, Simferopol, organized children groups, organized tourist groups,” he said.

The transport agency is unaware of VIM-Avia using faulty planes, Neradko also said.

“We have no information that they are flying on faulty aircraft. What different resources write citing some kind of technicians must be divided into several parts, because planes have so-called lists of permissible failures and malfunctions with which you can fly for some time. And you can interpret it in different ways,” he said. “The situation with the safety of flights is under control.”

VIM-Avia failed to properly estimate its capacities by more than tripling its passenger traffic in January–May, Neradko said.

“The thing is that airline VIM-Avia increased its traffic by 204% in January–May compared with the same period of last year. The airline has failed to match its abilities with desires. VIM-Avia sought to grow its traffic, “overheated”, and now they have to adjust their transportation programs,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said the government is cooperating with VIM-Avia and hopes the company will cope with the difficulties. The airline is ready to pay for the freight of ships, the problem is not in liquidity, but in presence of planes available for flights, he said.

“The market is not easy, it is quite tough now, so it is not easy for airlines. Nevertheless, we are trying to find an acceptable solution now. We expect that the company will get out of the difficulties. At least, (flight) delays are being gradually eliminated,” he said.

Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said that VIM-Avia has promised to settle the situation with flight delays within the next two weeks.

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