FINNAIR TO EXPAND COOPERATION WITH RUSSIAN AIRLINES.

135 words
2 March 2004
11:25
Interfax Weekly Business Report
English
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MOSCOW. Feb 11 (Interfax) - Finnair plans to expand cooperation with Russian airlines and its presence on the Russian market.

Finnair General Director Keo Sula discussed the plans with Russian Transport Minister Sergei Frank, the ministry told Interfax. Also present in the talks were Aeroflot General Director Valery Okulov and Russia's State Customs Committee Chairman Nikolai Shipil.

The sides discussed possible joint projects between Finnair and Aeroflot, the possibility of Aeroflot joining the One World alliance, and problems with flights over Siberia.

The ministry said Finnair makes eight flights a week between Helsinki and St Petersburg using MD-82 planes and Pulkovo offers six flights from St Petersburg to Helsinki using the Tu-154M planes.

Closer cooperation between the two airlines is complicated because Pulkovo lacks modern aircraft.