Russian planes with dual registration (registered in two countries) are no longer allowed to fly over Turkey, the decision came into force on 1 November, the RBC news outlet reports citing CEO of the Pegas Touristik travel agency Anna Podgornaya and two more sources in Russian tourist carriers.
Podgornaya says that the move means that flights to Egypt, for example, are now taking 20-30 minutes longer. However, tour package prices “are not affected by this slight increase in travel time”.
The Russian Transport Ministry currently intends to hold talks with Turkey to address the issue. A ministry representative slammed the dual registration as discrimination in conversation with RBC, adding that it contradicts ICAO goals and tasks set out in Article 44 of the Chicago Convention. “The current situation is such that unfriendly countries accuse us of the dual registration that they created themselves, fully turning a blind eye to the fact that they themselves violate basic principles of the Chicago Convention,” the representative claims.
Most foreign planes leased by Russian airlines were registered abroad, particularly in Bermuda. As the Western countries started slapping Moscow with sanctions, the Bermuda authorities suspended airworthiness certificated of these planes.
In March, Russian President Vladimir Putin authorised registration of rights for foreign planes leased by Russian airlines. Russian authorities signed more than 500 planes under the Russian jurisdiction to preserve the aircraft fleet.
In September, ICAO raised concerns about flight safety in Russia. The organisation dropped its score of airworthiness standard implementation efficiency in Russia to 77.4%.
