You're reading: AeroSvit suspends flights between Kyiv and Moscow

Kyiv-based AeroSvit Airline from January 15, 2013 suspended flights on the Kyiv-Moscow-Kyiv route and proposed that passengers take the flights of its partners or apply for ticket refunds as foreseen in air transportation rules, the press service of the airline has reported.

The press service said that the decision was made as the airline’s participation in the BSP system of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) has been suspended, including the BSP Russia system. The commercial burden on the airline’s flights from and to Moscow has considerably fallen, which prevents the effective exploitation of the route.

On January 10, 2013, IATA informed AeroSvit that it had had to instruct the regional IATA BSP systems to suspend payments with agents for the sale of tickets for the airline’s flights via the BSP system.

The IATA also said that it recommended agents switch to direct bilateral payments with the airline.

“AeroSvit has expressed regret over the IATA’s decision, which violated the mechanism for cooperation of the airline with agents of the BSP system in over 50 countries,” read a report of the airline.

AeroSvit also expects that the size of the deposit demanded by IATA as a condition for the prolongation of its participation in the BSP system to a level in line with the current route network of the airline.

Before the resumption of servicing in the IATA BSP system, AeroSvit plans to use alternative distribution channels, including its own online sales and direct payments with airlines and agents.

“After the launch of the alternative ticket sale system, AeroSvit plans to resume flights to Moscow,” reads the carrier’s press release.

Before the suspension of the Kyiv-Moscow flights, the airline performed four daily flights on the route to Shevemetyevo airport.

As reported, referring to Head of the State Aviation Service of Ukraine Anatoliy Kolesnik, AeroSvit Airline from January 15, 2013 and until the end of the winter schedule 2013 will almost fully suspend its domestic flights.

“The Kyiv-Ivano-Frankivsk and Kyiv-Dnipropetrovsk flights will be performed from January 15 until the end of March,” he said.

The airline’s press service said that the rest of the domestic flights would be performed under code sharing agreements with partners.

On January 14, 2013, the airline said that the reduced flight network of the airline becomes regular. The new schedule could be changed. The airline asked its clients to check for updates on its Web site.