US carrier launches new Russian routes against backdrop of potential suspension of Aeroflot Il-62 flights to Seattle

Published: 12/14/1999

Alaska-based US carrier, Reeve Aleutian, has announced the launch of a weekly flight on route Anchorage-Yuzkno-Sakhalinsk-Anchorage, using a Boeing 727-700. It also intends to open an office in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk and is the first foreign carrier to obtain a license for flights to Sakhalin. The announcement follows controversy surrounding the introduction, on January 1st, of US Stage 3 noise abatement regulations, which will effectively prevent Aeroflot from continuing its Il-62 flights to Anchorage from the Russian Far East onto Seattle. According to Aeroflot, it cannot operate economically to Anchorage, where a special exemption applies, unless it can fly on to the US west coast.Reeve Aleutian have been vocal in making the point that Russian exclusion could lead to potential problems with both flights form the US to Russia and polar over flights. Associated articles: www.concise.org. 6th December 1999

Article ID: 1222