Russia withdraws overflight rights of Lufthansa Cargo

[Al Fakhem]

According to Der Spiegel, the ongoing dispute about stratospheric charges for Russian overflight rights has claimed its first victim, Lufthansa Cargo.

The German government appears to have reacted by banning Aeroflot cargo a/c and another unspecified Russian carrier from German airspace.

More at: http://www.spiegel.de/wirtschaft/0,1518,514507,00.html

[hetfield]

Former German Chancellor's Schroeder's friend Putin, an excellent democrat (Schroeder), is going mad.

[Al Fakhem]

Of course, Schröder, being a socialist, knows best which side of his bread is buttered. Leaves his political office and joins a Russian company that is clearly out to blackmail Europe's energy users.:yuk:

[Al Fakhem]

The ulterior motif behind Russia’s move is now emerging. They want LH Cargo to refrain from using Kazakhstan or Uzbekistan as stopover points and instead refuel at Krasnoyarsk on their way to and from the Far East.

LH Cargo use MD-11 equipment that is unable to cover the distance between FRA and Far Eastern destinations without a refueling stop.

[hetfield]

Mafia methods.....

[Panama Jack]

Deja-vu. Sounds like a commonly-used Russian strongarm-tactic.

http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_generic.jsp?channel=aviationdaily&id=news/canad11123.xml

[tonytech2]

Sounds like the Russians have gotten their way
---------------------------
RUSSIAN TRANSPORT MINISTRY EXTENDS LUFTHANSA CARGO'S TEMPORARY PERMIT TO FLY OVER RUSSIA TILL NOVEMBER 15, 2007
/AVIA.RU/
On November 2, 2007 the German aviation authorities confirmed their readiness to consider the possibility of landing of Lufthansa Cargo's airplanes at Krasnoyarsk airport when performing flights over the territory of Russia to the Southeast Asian countries and to inform the Russian aviation authorities of the decision made.

This information is contained in a press release issued by Tilo Shmidt,
Germany's Federal Transport Ministry Civil Aviation general director, which was received by the Russian Transport Ministry.

Considering good will and constructive relations built between the aviation
authorities of Russia and Germany, the Russian side has made a decision to extend validity of the temporary permit given to the Lufthansa Cargo air company till November 15, 2007, until the German side officially confirms its choice of a transit landing airport.

In accordance with an agreement on air communication between Russia and Germany, there is a table of routes which doesn't envisage Lufthansa Cargo flights over the territory of Russia with a landing at Astana (Kazakhstan) to their final destination in South East Asia.

Flights on this route had been performed on request from the German side on the grounds of the above permit issued by the Russian aviation authorities. At that, according to a Protocol of talks signed by the both countries' aviation authorities on February 23, 2007 in Munich, there were reached arrangements under which the German side undertook to have transit landings performed at Krasnoyarsk or Novosibirsk airports. Beside, the German side assumed an obligation to notify the Russian aviation authorities of a decision to be taken by it before June 25, 2007.

[CANOPUS]

Good news for Jade Cargo? Although largely owned by Lufthansa Cargo, it has B registration (mainland, China) on its Boeing 747-400's. This should allow Jade to circumvent any adverse overflight issues experienced by other German owned cargo operations. :D