Russian and Israeli airlines share Moscow-Tel Aviv route (410 words)

Published: 8/21/2000

The Russian and Israeli aviation authorities have agreed to allow four more airlines, split between Russia and Israel, to make regular flights between Moscow and Tel-Aviv For Transaero, which has shared the route with El Al for the last seven years, the announcement has some fairly serious consequences according to the airline, which is concerned about the impact of the changes on the existing operators and that the deal may swing the route traffic in favour of the Israelis. Currently, the leg from Tel Aviv to Moscow is provided by El Al, with Transaero providing the return leg in conjunction with Pulkovo Airlines. Additionally eleven other Russian airlines provide charter flights from different Russian cities, with the Russians, according to Transaero, carrying 70% of the passengers between the two countries, which is one of the reasons that the Israeli Ministry of Transport sought to change the arrangement in the view of Transaero. Transaero additionally argue that Pavel Rozhkov, FSVT's Head of International Agreements, Pavel Rozhkov was not empowered to negotiate with the his Israeli counterpart Avner Yarkoni , due to the dissolution of the FSVT. Igor Veisbord, El Al's representative in Moscow, has been quoted in the local press, as saying that he thinks the eight new weekly flights will completely destroy the balance achieved by El Al and Transaero. Arguing that the two airlines are still not fully utilising the quota of flights available under the intergovernmental agreement, with Transaero making only nine out of the quota of 12 weekly flights and El Al only six out of eight, with load factors not exceeding 60-70%. Veisbord believes that this level of traffic brings the question of profitable operation for new and old operators into question. Pavel Rozhkov however believes that the agreement has no alternative as the share of the Russian airlines has greatly surpassed that of Israel, and the Israeli authorities understandably want a more equitable split. Rozhkov says that a simple refusal would lead to disagreement and in exchange for the new flights to Moscow, Israel has agreed not to limit the charter flights by regional airlines from nine Russian airports and also allow four more charter airlines to make regular charter flights. For Yarkony the review of the route had led to the conclusion that there was a need to introduce new airlines and bring prices down and encourage greater passenger volumes.

Article ID: 2008