The restrictions will not affect carriers performing flights to neighbouring regions only.
Prime minister Vladimir Putin has held a Government Presidium meeting which concentrated mainly on air transport. Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov reported on the Continent airline which had gone bankrupt. The irresponsible attitude of the company towards more than 30,000 passengers could have serious consequences for the whole industry, said Ivanov.
The Ministry of Transport is going to introduce flight restrictions for companies with small aircraft fleets. These restrictions will not affect local airlines performing flights to neighbouring regions or socially important flights within a federal district.
"The recent Tu-134 accident near Petrozavodsk, the crash landing of an AN-24 in the Tomsk Region, the recent emergency landing in Blagoveshchensk and the accident with the An-12 transport all have one feature in common", said Ivanov. "They all involve airplanes belonging to companies that possess two, three, or, at best, four aircraft. It is becoming quite obvious that they are unable to guarantee the level of technology required to ensure adequate transportational safety".
Ivanov pointed out that safety must come before profits, especially since the air transport market has stabilised in recent years. Currently 15 large airline companies carry 90% of passengers, so by competing with each other they are constantly reducing ticket prices, the government officials said.
"The remaining 120 companies carry just 8-9% of the passengers", said Ivanov. "These small companies (I, as well as others, call them "wildcat airlines") are simply unable to ensure the adequate technological safety standards."
Putin agreed that safety must come first. The State Duma will receive the proposals from the Ministry of Transport at the end of September, and they could come into force by the end of the year. As for Continent airline, which sold about 30,000 tickets for 280 million roubles and failed to provide the services paid for, Ivanov suggested initiating criminal proceedings against its owners.
"I believe that there is every indication of fraud", Ivanov concluded.
The discussion on air transport was not all negative. Putin asked about preparations for the 10th International Aviation and Space Show, MAKS-2011, which will take place in Zhukovsky. Ivanov reported on this issue with great enthusiasm and he had every reason to. The number of MAKS participants is going up every year - this year, 794 companies from 40 countries will be represented at MAKS-2011.
Visitors to MAKS-2011 will see a spectacular air show. This year 211 aircraft will be taking part in the programme. Ivanov invited Putin to visit the show.
"The MAKS Air and Space Show is truly becoming a prestigious, world-class international venue", agreed Putin, who knows what he is talking about - this year he visited the International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget.
Alexander Matveyev, Anastasia Novikova