RUSSIA-GEORGIA FLIGHTS AGREEMENT EXTENDED
The Governments of Russia and Georgia have granted permission for charter flights to continue between Moscow and Tbilisi until the end of March. A previous short-term agreement was due to end on December 31, 2010 but the authorities have approved a three month extension. S7 Airlines and Georgian Airways AirZena each offer four flights per week between the two cities.
IRAQI DIVISION FOR VIKING HELLAS
Greek Independent airline Viking Hellas Airlines has established an Iraqi-based joint venture, Viking Middle East, in partnership with German and Iraqi investors. The start-up will share the risk and rewards of the airline’s existing flights to Erbil and Sulaymaniyah from Athens and to develop new services into the country, especially destinations in Kurdish Regional Government areas. “We have a sound platform that gives us the freedom to capitalise on markets where there is demand and margins are strong.” said Roger Gatt, Chief Executive Officer of Viking Hellas Airlines.
WIZZ AIR UKRAINE MOVES AIRPORTS
Central and Eastern European low-cost specialist Wizz Air is to transfer its operations in the Ukrainian capital from Kiev’s Borispol Airport to Zhulyany. The international flights of its local subsidiary Wizz Air Ukraine to Antalya, Cologne Bonn, Dortmund, Hamburg Lübeck, Katowice, London Luton, Memmingen, Oslo Sandefjord, Stockholm Skavsta and Treviso, as well as its domestic link to Simferopol, will move across the city on March 27. Zhulyany is located just 5 miles (8 km) from the city centre and is certainly less-constrained than Kiev’s main gateway, but its facilities are much more limited, albeit suitable for a low-cost carrier offering a no-frills service. The move is understood to be part of the airline’s strategy to push down costs but could also be seen as a defensive tactic ahead of the expected arrival of Ryanair in the Ukrainian market. The Irish low-cost carrier is understood to be in talks to inaugurate flights into the country ahead of the 2012 European Football Championship, which is being jointly hosted by Ukraine and Poland.
NEW AIR SERVICES PARTNERSHIP
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Mauritania have signed a new Air Services Agreement (ASA) to boost international trade. The arrangement enables unrestricted passenger and cargo access to air operators between the two countries as well as fifth freedom traffic rights on intermediate and beyond points of operator’s choice without restriction.
UIA BUILDS NETWORK LINKS
Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) is to introduce a three times weekly link from its Kiev base to Astana in Kazakhstan from April 26, while also increasing capacity on existing routes to Almaty and Berlin. The carrier will compete directly with local rival Aerosvit Airlines on the Kiev – Astana link, according to Flightbase (January 14-20), with the latter offering three flights per week, one with a Boeing 737 and two using Embraer 195s of WindRose Aviation.
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