newstodate.aero
Jan 9, 2009 (newstodate): Hopes for an early solution to the crucial issue of Siberian overflight charges levied on EU carriers by Russia are still in the refrigerator.
Russia has made it clear that an enforcement of the earlier negotiated schedule for gradually reducing and eventually abolishing the overflight charges hinges on Russia's accession to the WTO.
Russia has therefore made it clear that the overflight charges scheme will not be modified in 2009.
The charges, estimated to be around USD500 mio annually, are collected by Aeroflot that retains some USD300 mio, returning the remainder to Russia's Federal Air Navigation Authority and the Federal Air Traffic Agency.
In 2006, the EU commission negotiated an agreement with Russia to freeze overflight charges from 2010 and fully abolishing them by 2013 through a gradual process.
Since then, the Russian state has however refused to ratify the agreement, and no immediate solution is in sight.
Russia has made it clear that an enforcement of the earlier negotiated schedule for gradually reducing and eventually abolishing the overflight charges hinges on Russia's accession to the WTO.
Russia has therefore made it clear that the overflight charges scheme will not be modified in 2009.
The charges, estimated to be around USD500 mio annually, are collected by Aeroflot that retains some USD300 mio, returning the remainder to Russia's Federal Air Navigation Authority and the Federal Air Traffic Agency.
In 2006, the EU commission negotiated an agreement with Russia to freeze overflight charges from 2010 and fully abolishing them by 2013 through a gradual process.
Since then, the Russian state has however refused to ratify the agreement, and no immediate solution is in sight.