Georgian Airways (A9, Tbilisi) president Tamaz Gaiashvili has threatened to withdraw his airline from serving Moscow if the traffic rights under a proposed new bilateral air services agreement between Georgia and Russia are not equitably distributed.
Central Asian Aero News quotes Gaiashvili as saying that during talks last week with officials from the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency (GeCAA), representatives from Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) had requested six daily frequencies for Russian carriers serving Georgia.
"They're asking a lot. Basically, they want Russian air companies to operate six flights per day. It is interesting to ask whether our capital has moved back to Moscow or still remains in Tbilisi? Why do we need so many flights? If the issue is resolved in favour of the Russian airlines then we as Georgian carriers will cease operating flights to Moscow," he said.
Late last year, in the interests of resolving an impasse that had threatened to end flights between the two former Soviet republics before they even began, the two sides signed a provisional agreement in which designated carriers from each country would be allowed to operate 18 flights per week on the Moscow - Tbilisi route through January 31.
"It was about the frequency of flights. We will let you know when a final agreement has been reached. The main focus is to protect the interests of (Georgian) airlines, the interests of the country, and most importantly - the interests of consumers. As the final result has not yet been reached, an [interim] agreement on the implementation of 18 flights (per week) remains in effect," the head of the Civil Aviation Agency of Georgia, Guram Jalagonia, told Georgian News.
Georgian carriers have repeatedly complained to their government about Russian carriers allegedly dumping seats and undercutting fares in the Tbilisi - Moscow market in a bid to ultimately drive them out.
