EU Approves Agreement on Trans-Siberian Overflight Charges

The European Union Council has approved an agreement, negotiated last November, with Russia on Trans-Siberian overflights.

The agreement between the European Union and Russia creates a mechanism for overflight charges for Asia-bound European airliners using Russian airspace.  Until now, European carriers have had to pay more than $300 million a year for flights over Siberia, the fastest route to destinations in China, Japan and Southeast Asia.

The equalization mechanism aims to provide equal competition terms for Trans-Siberian routes between the EU air carriers during the transitional period, until the end of December 2013, and will began applying on September 1, 2007.  However, some provisions will be applied from the date of the agreement's signing; including one that allows newly operated overflight frequencies granted by the Russian side to be free of payments.  05-13-2007.

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