Aeroflot to litigate against the Ministry of Transport over MD-11 flap?
By SwizStick • Mar 26th, 2008 • Category: Air Cargo, AirlinesI didn’t know this, but according to the article the Russian government has some kind of regulation excluding western aircraft that are more than 15 years old. Aeroflot is none too happy as the operating costs of their aging DC-10 freighters has them turning to the MD-11:
The Russian government is preventing the airline from operating the MD-11s, as they break the 15-year age limit for western aircraft.
At least one ex-Varig MD-11 has been painted in the Aeroflot Cargo livery, but is sat on the tarmac unable to operate.
Extraordinarily, the cargo airline is reported to have commenced legal action against the ministry of transport over the issue.
Meanwhile, the cost of operating the DC-10 freighters has had a major impact on its finances. Aeroflot Cargo is believed to have lost between US$30-40 million last year and is reducing the use of the DC-10 to help prevent further losses.
I would have thought that Aeroflot Cargo would have known about the regulation before agreeing to acquire a number of aging MD-11s, but I certainly don’t know too much about this case. And it wouldn’t surprise me if Russia’s complicated and ever-changing regulatory landscape threw a last-minute wrench into their plans.
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