Aeroflot (SU, Moscow Sheremetyevo) and Finnair (AY, Helsinki Vantaa) are to soon face competition on the Moscow Sheremetyevo to Helsinki Vantaa route after the Russian and Finnish governments recently revised their Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with provision now having been made for a second designated carrier from each country. According to Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency, Rosaviatsia, the as-yet-unannounced airlines “will have seven frequencies per week” on the Moscow - Helsinki route effective from November 28. At present, Aeroflot makes full use of its allocated 14 weekly flights with Finnair using just 9 out of their allotment, of which 7 are under codeshare with the Russian national carrier. Historically very protective of its airline sector, Russia has, during the course of the last year, moved to liberalize a number of its BASAs, most notably with Italy and France, as it seeks out new markets for its own burgeoning airline industry.