The agency's criteria for the winter season will make it even more difficult for smaller carriers (376 words)

Published: 12/3/2001

The GSGA, having reduced the number of charter carriers carrying passengers to foreign destinations during the summer season of 2001, seems set to continue the practice into the winter season. The aim is to prevent a recurrence of last winter's problems with RusAvia, which, during December 2000-January 2001, failed to meet its contractual obligations to carry and return passengers on nine charter flights to Thailand, Indonesia and Egypt owing to a lack of aircraft. The new licence period from 15th December to 31st January - traditionally a busy season for airlines - has led to previous licences being carried and obliges charter carriers to re-apply to ensure they meet the GSGA standards, detailing the planned flights, tour agreements, how they will meet the schedule and provide reserve aircraft. The GSGA has said it will check the condition of airlines' aircraft. According to the airlines, the telegrams informing of them of the changes arrived on the morning of 3rd December and the applications have to be submitted by the 10th December 2001. The new element in the application process is the requirement to provide details of reserve aircraft. This measure is likely to hit the smallest charter carriers the most. These, while previously required to attest to having reserve aircraft, did not have to prove it. The new regulation may therefore lead to some scrambling on the part of smaller carriers to sign agreements to provide each other with cover in the event of the non-availability of aircraft for planned charter flights. This may prove to be the least of the smaller carriers' problems, with the news that both Turkey and China have introduced a 1st January 2002 deadline for airlines over flying both countries to install ACAS-II equipment. This affects all carriers, which carry to and over fly both the countries en route to destinations in Egypt and South East Asia. For many of the smaller operators, the cost and deadline are not achievable and they are likely not to apply to the GSGA for the routes. This response is likely to be welcomed by the agency, always eager to reduce the industry's numbers.

Article ID: 2941