OREANDA-NEWS. April 02, 2012. On March 26, 2012 air service between Minsk and Moscow was suspended.
 
Flight operations are performed under  terms of the Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation “On Air Service and Cooperation in the Field of Air Transport” as of December 12, 1997.
 
In accordance with this agreement the commercial parity is provided between the two capitals.  Russian aviation authorities have proposed to treat it as the parity of flight frequency.
 
In season IATA “Summer 2012” it has been applied for the operation of 4 flight frequencies per day by the National Airline “Belavia”. The Russian side has applied for the operation of five flight frequencies per day - one frequency by S7 and Utair, and three frequencies by the Airline “Aeroflot”.
 
Belarusian aviation authorities have received authorization to perform 4 frequencies during the “Summer 2012” season. Besides they have received authorization to perform the applied five frequencies for several days to provide the comfortable conditions for the passengers.
 
We are ready for an immediate settlement of the situation, but the Russian authorities proposed to start negotiations only in April,”- told Anatoliy Gusarov, the General Director of the National Airline “Belavia”.
 
The authorization for flight operations for “Belavia” was issued in the evening on March 24, 2012; it was given only until March 30, 2012.
 
In the morning on March 26, 2012, at 06.21 am, Minsk time, after the departure of “Aeroflot” flight SU1835 from Minsk to Moscow, Russian aviation authorities send us a report of the cancellation of the authorization for “Belavia” regular flight operations in “Summer 2012” season on the route Minsk-Moscow-Minsk from March 26, 2012, 07.00 am.
 
“In our view, the current situation infringes on the rights of both Russian and Belarusian passengers. All flights of the National Airline "Belavia" on the route Minsk-Moscow are carried out jointly with Russian Airlines “Transaero” and “Siberia”, - commented Anatoliy Gusarov.
 
“Belavia” regrets the decision of the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency, which negatively affected the plans of airline passengers.
 
The National Airline apologizes to passengers and is ready to pay the full cost of tickets for all the passengers of canceled flights or to rebook tickets to another direction free of charge. Until Thursday, March 29, 2012, we reached the agreement on flight operations.