The Russian Ministry of Transport has officially approved new draft legislation which will allow LCC Pobeda (DP, Moscow Sheremetyevo) to commence international operations this winter.
Last week, the Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) rejected the carrier's application for international traffic rights on the ground's it did not comply with existing legislation which require start-ups to fly domestically for two years before starting international operations.
However, on the back of the announcement, Russia's RIA news agency quotes official government sources as saying the Kremlin has now drafted amendments to Federal Aviation Regulations which will exempt airlines whose parent carrier already has compliance - in this case Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo).
With new laws in place, Pobeda will apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for permission to start foreign flights which in this case include Bratislava, Dresden, Cologne/Bonn, Milan Bergamo, Salzburg, Chambéry Aix-lès-Bains and Verona from its Moscow Vnukovo hub.
With all the required regulatory paperwork in place, tickets are expected to go on sale early next month in time for a new late-November launch date.
