Russia to extend emergency support to airline industry

(Reuters) – Russia will provide its airlines with another 50.6 billion roubles ($810 million) of emergency support as the industry reels from the fallout of the war in Ukraine, the RBC daily reported on Tuesday, citing a government source.

The funds will be an extension of a 100 billion rouble scheme put in place earlier this year which is due to expire at the end of October.

The transport ministry press office declined to comment.

State-owned Aeroflot, which also runs the low-cost Pobeda airline – Russian for “victory” – was the biggest beneficiary of the first tranche of funds.

Since invading Ukraine in February, Russia has seen many of its international air links severed. The European Union has banned Russian planes from its airspace, while other Western sanctions are squeezing Russia’s ability to secure spare parts or service its large fleets of Boeing and Airbus planes.

SOURCE REUTERS