UK airlines are being invited to bid to take over bmi’s traffic rights to operate on the London –Moscow route after government talks to liberalise the market between the two countries failed to achieve a breakthrough, our sister publication Routes News has revealed.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has formally launched a scarce capacity review to find a new airline to take over bmi’s allocation of 14 services per week to the Russian capital after talks between UK and Russian transport officials earlier this month to failed to achieve an increase. Airlines have until next Monday to make a formal application and if more than one applicant comes forward, the CAA will have to judge who will win the rights.
Under the present bilateral agreement, both countries are limited to 35 services per week between the two European capitals with British Airways and Aeroflot each allocated 21 services per week while bmi and Transaero can each operate 14. Following bmi’s acquisition by BA’s parent International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) earlier this year, its rights will become available at the Northern summer schedule for reallocation.
A UK delegation from the Department for Transport travelled to Moscow Domodedovo Airport earlier this month to meet with the Russian Ministry of Civil Aviation. But, despite “constructive talks”, UK officials failed to persuade the Russian Ministry to agree to more flights between the two cities and London.
BA is currently continuing the bmi twice daily service, which operates as a codeshare with Transaero Airlines, but has confirmed it will end the link in late October, although its own flights will not be impacted. The development puts Virgin Atlantic in the driving seat to take on bmi’s flights between Heathrow and Moscow. The airline has publicly stated it plans to launch a Moscow-London service in 2013, but this will be dependant on Virgin winning bmi’s slots at London Heathrow as well as the scarce capacity certificate for the service from the CAA. easyJet are also viewed as a possible candidate for the licence but the carrier remains tight-lipped over the matter.
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