Air traffic in Russia this year is expected to be 27.1% above the level of the previous year, while in 2011 the rise will continue at 10-12%, according to Aleksandr Neradko, head of the Russian Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsiya). Although the rate of increase in the Russian air traffic is expected to be less next year, it will nonetheless be twice the worlds’ average at 5-6%.

Neradko further said that current financial situation at some Russian carriers is deplorable “and so airline mergers can be expected next year”.

Touching on the New Year holidays, Neradko said his agency “is not going to put blocks” to the airlines willing to carry more people on their charter flights in the peak of the winter season, but asked the airlines not to sell tickets before permission for respective flights is awarded by the aviation authorities.

There had been cases when an airline sold out its charter flight and then applied to the authorities for permission to make that flight. Neradko called this practice “blackmail”. The said the Russian aviation authorities will no longer tolerate such practices, and that tourist operators were informed about this.

Meantime, “We will try to issue permissions to all requests submitted by airlines in the peak of the season”. He specially mentioned that this will apply to all popular tourist destinations including mountain skiing resorts in Europe. Neradko further said the authorities are ready to “make steps towards carriers” and issue permission for additional requests “if that is possible”.