Russia offers to resume all air traffic with Ukraine
Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) offered to engage in talks with Ukrainian authorities on resuming all air traffic, reported RBC news agency.
“In response to the prohibition of direct charter air traffic between our countries imposed by Ukraine’s leadership, we propose to hold talks and resume all flights on a regular and charter basis between Russia and Ukraine,” the agency’s press service reported.
Representatives of Rosaviatsia stressed that the citizens of the two countries would benefit from the resumption of air traffic.
The Ukrainian government had previously banned non-scheduled flights between Ukraine and Russia, exempting flights supporting the missions of international organizations.
Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov noted that this decision was made on the basis of an analysis of the presidential candidate from the party “Opposition Platform - For Life”, Yuriy Boyko’s, flight to the Russian Federation. “Mr. Boyko took advantage of a loophole in our legislation and received the necessary approval from the FSB of the Russian Federation to take such a direct flight,” the minister added.
Previously adopted bans did not apply to the irregular flights between Ukraine and Russia, carried out by aircraft not registered in Russia.
Due to Russian flights to the Crimea, Ukraine had closed off its skies to Russian passenger and freight traffic on October 25, 2015. The same day, Russia introduced reciprocal measures against Ukrainian airlines.