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The deputy transport minister of Russia, Valery Okulov, announced to Minister of Transport Yisrael Katz that within a few days the Russian aviation authority will decide whether to comply to the Israeli request to allow additional Israeli airlines to operate scheduled flights on the Tel Aviv to Moscow route.

Minister Katz met with the Russian deputy Minister of Transport in Moscow to discuss aviation affairs, as part of the international conference of Ministers of Transport, taking place under the auspices of the United Nations. In a message delivered by his office he said that at the same time  as the additional of a second carrier, the two sides expressed their intention to increase the quota and frequency of flights between the two countries to more than 21 weekly flights as allowed today by each side.

With regards to the aviation crisis with Russia, which resulted in the cancellation of flights to three destinations in Russia (Sochi, Rostov and Krasnodar), it was agreed that next week there would be a meeting between representatives of the aviation authorities of the two countries, which would aim at resolving security issues and allow for the resumption of flights to those destinations.  

According to the aviation agreement signed between the two countries, Israel is allowed to operate additional carriers on the route to Sochi, Rostov and Krasnodar.  The Ministry of Transport appointed Sun d’Or and Arkia as the official carriers to those destinations, but because of the refusal of the Russian authorities to verify the presence of armed Israeli security personnel, so the flights were cancelled.

The Minister of Transport expressed his hopes that if a settlement is found regarding the security issues for Israeli companies in Russia, the procedures may be broadened to include flights to Moscow and Saint Petersburg.