Balkan and Uzbek rumoured to be bickering over shared New York route

Published: 3/31/2000

It seems that Balkan Airlines are having a difficult task restoring its route to New York on the 13th April due to problems relating to code sharing with Uzbekistan Airways. Two months ago Balkan Airlines signed a code share agreement with the Uzbekistan Airlines under which an Uzbek Boeing 767-300 would fly Tashkent - Tel Aviv - Sofia - New York twice a week. It appears however, from reports of sources within Balkan, that the FAA has refused the Uzbek"s landing rights in New York. Additionally there were reports of problems related to crewing the plane between Sofia and New York. Other sources have said however, that the dispute relates to prices and the provision of seats by the Uzbeks to Balkan, The latter cause appears a much more likely scenario in the absence of any comment from Balkan, as Uzbekistan Airways has been operating on the New York route for some time and without problems in the past.

Article ID: 1634