Prime Minister Vladimir Putin holding an emergency meeting with Transport Minister Igor Levitin, Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin and Deputy Minister of Sport, Tourism and Youth Policy Oleg Rozhnov regarding Russian travellers flying to or from Europe
Transcript of the beginning of the meeting:
Vladimir Putin: Good afternoon, colleagues. Let's talk about the situation that has developed in the skies of Europe in connection with the volcano eruption in Iceland. How are things with our Russian passengers at European airports? How many people have accumulated there and how many cannot leave? And what do we need to do to help these people?
It is obvious that visa support will be necessary, because many of them have visas that are probably expiring. In general, consular workers must now react conscientiously and in a timely manner to what is happening: they may need to drive to a location, meet with people, determine what problems they have and help. That's the first thing.
Second, we need to organise these people's departure plan - those who want to, of course - from European countries using other transport besides air travel. If planes are grounded, then use buses and trains.
In the past, these routes were very developed, and they operate to this day. I'm referring to Warsaw, Prague and Berlin. Mr Levitin, what is the situation right now? Please.
Igor Levitin: Mr Putin, in total as of 8 a.m. on April 18, 359 flights have been cancelled and 29 are delayed. A total of around 32,000 were unable to fly out and around 12,000 of them are at European airports. We have a list of how many passengers are at each airport.
Vladimir Putin: Which airports have the most people?
Igor Levitin: These are the European airports in Germany, the Netherlands, France and northern Italy. I also want to report that of these 12,000 passengers, 7,000 are Aeroflot passengers. And Aeroflot itself is rendering them aid, including hotel accommodations. Around 1,000 people are staying in hotels. All of the others are either at the airport or they have found accommodation independently, but they remain in contact.
I want also to mention that Aeroflot is refunding money to those who cancelled their trips. A total of about 4,000 passengers have turned in their tickets. They either cancelled their trips outright or will use other forms of transport.
Vladimir Putin: The situation is changing, nevertheless. And some European capitals are opening up. That's why Aeroflot and our other airlines need to react quickly to the changing situation and evacuate people at the first opportunity.
Igor Levitin: Mr Putin, this is specifically what is planned. The Aeroflot information centre is working round the clock, as are their European Sky Team partners and other airlines.
This morning, Rome was open and Aeroflot is sending flights there with passengers holding tickets for any other flights. In other words, they did not need to have reissued tickets.
A question about transit passengers. Here, in Russia, at three Moscow airports, there are transit passengers. These are passengers who do not have visas and who did not plan to exit these airports. With the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have organised 24-hour consular services.
Visa reissues are now in progress, meaning that the passengers waiting in airport customs zones can receive 72 hour transit visas, exit the customs zone of the airport and stay in a hotel, in the city or the airport.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Levitin, not one European airline is flying to Russia?
Igor Levitin: Not one European airline is flying to Russia except Aeroflot. Our other airlines are not flying to Europe. Only Aeroflot is flying.
Vladimir Putin: Yesterday, I flew in from Murmansk. President Medvedev flew to Krakow today for the funeral event. And as it happens, both Central and Northern Europe are closed. How come we're flying and they're not?
Igor Levitin: We are only flying on those routes that are open. Aeroflot inspects each plane upon arrival - technical inspections are conducted. They are monitoring the situation both upon arrival at European airports and here in Moscow as well.
Vladimir Putin: And are we flying to North America?
Igor Levitin: Yes, Aeroflot has changed its route to North America and is now flying a cross-polar route.
Vladimir Putin: In other words, across the North Pole region?
Igor Levitin: Yes, across the Arctic. They're using what is for them a new route. In the U.S., there is generally a long waiting list for these flights, because it is currently the only way into Europe.
Vladimir Putin: If things go on like this, then soon there will be no European airlines left but Aeroflot.
Igor Levitin: The situation is difficult, and a number of airlines are already asking for help. The International Civil Aviation Organisation has provided the following information: European airlines are losing $200 million a day.
Vladimir Putin: How long do experts figure this situation could continue?
Igor Levitin: According to forecasts from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the restrictions that cause delays will be in place for three or four days. These restrictions mean limited flights. In other words, some airports will be opened from day to day, but it is generally a three or four-day wait.
Vladimir Putin: Is there a need to organise additional train and bus trips?
Igor Levitin: Along with Russian Railways, we've explored options for adding additional railcars to trains headed towards Europe. An additional 1,000 people were transported this way.
Vladimir Putin: You brought a map? Let's take a look.
Igor Levitin: This is a map of all the routes in the Russian Federation. The red colour is the actual confirmed area of the cloud. The green is the forecast provided to us by our European colleagues. In other words, we see that according to the forecast, the cloud is moving towards the Ural region.
So the route that Aeroflot is using is a route across the North Pole region. The regular flight was through Europe and Reykjavik. Therefore, our special services are now monitoring the situation. What else is currently allowed in Europe? They allow flights at an altitude of up to 6,000 metres if the ground is in visual contact. In other words, using the visual sighting technique - up to 6,000 metres some European countries allow to fly.
I would also like to report that all flights on Russian territory are on schedule. Right now we're negotiating with our Asian counterparts. Beijing and other cities also have many delays for European travellers.
We are currently negotiating for all Russian citizens who are now in Southeast Asia. We are ready and will receive them, if not in Moscow, then in the airports of the Far East. And then from there, local flights will get them to their destinations in Russia.
I would also like to say that we have prepared about 40 buses in Kaliningrad. And if the forecast is confirmed and there will be three or four more days of restrictions, we are ready to evacuate around 1,500 people on buses from Kaliningrad. We can transport about the same number of people through Estonia and Finland.
Right now, we are in touch with the EU commissioner. We are offering the Europeans any available means of transport.
Ferries will start operating in Europe, because Scandinavia was affected first, as early as April 15. Therefore, they have engaged ferries and we can give passengers a lift to Tallinn or Helsinki using buses or railway transport. We can also do the same to get them back to Russia. In other words, in essence, Kaliningrad has become a transit hub, because it is open.
Vladimir Putin: Mr Karasin, will we have problems with transit countries?
Grigory Karasin: Lithuania and other EU countries are flexibly and constructively reacting to the situation. Our ambassadors and general consulates are in regular contact with them. A temporary agreement has been reached according to which Russian citizens will be able to travel to Russian territory from the Kaliningrad Region using their internal Russian passports and a so-called certificate of return. There will be no obstacles in this regard.
Vladimir Putin: Certificate of return - what's that?
Grigory Karasin: This is when the consular department of an embassy issues a certificate of return that is valid for a person to return to home territory and guarantees that he or she will not be held in the transit country...
Vladimir Putin: Wait a second. Where will people get this certificate? They're sitting in train stations and airports...
Grigory Karasin: They will get them in our consular offices, and we gave our consuls strict instructions on this matter yesterday. We're monitoring airports and places where tourists are accommodated - tourists who ended up temporarily stuck on the territory of foreign countries. No major problems or censure have been observed so far. We're keeping track of the situation and ambassadors are making what amounts to almost hourly reports.
Vladimir Putin: Do our companies need some kind of financial support?
Igor Levitin: We are monitoring the situation. Aeroflot is refunding money to those passengers who request it. No support is needed for the time being. But everything will depend on how we will bring passengers back from abroad. Because there are 12,000 people there, and 7,000 of these are Aeroflot passengers and 5,000 are with foreign carriers. We need to think about how we will bring them here.
There are also passengers here that bought tickets on foreign airlines - Lufthansa, British Airways and others. We are also negotiating with them. All of their passengers that are in Russia right now, are being provided for by these airlines. When this situation is over, we will report to you on the financial standing of airlines, which are operating without interruption in this situation.
Another small detail - within 24 hours, Lithuania decided to issue transit visas through its entire territory, from Kaliningrad to Russia. In 24 hours, they started to immediately issue transit visas instead of accepting applications and a 26-hour wait. In other words, if a passenger wants to travel to Russia, he or she is issued a visa on the spot, and he or she is able to leave at any time. Previously, there was a 26-hour wait. Now the Lithuanian Foreign Ministry has resolved this problem together with the Russian Foreign Ministry. Something we couldn't resolve for years was fixed in a couple of days.
Vladimir Putin: Thank you. So really, Aeroflot is the only European airline that is flying with minimal restrictions?
Igor Levitin: Today - yes.
