ON THE MODERNIZATION OF THE RUSSIAN AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS

The authors present the results of a thorough analysis of Russian air service agreements in force, as well as agreed minutes, memoranda of understanding and other documents recording the results of negotiations between aeronautical authorities. The article depicts the quantitative characteristics of the modern Russian system of air service agreements and classifies states-partners of the Russian Federation with respect to air traffic on the basis of the number of freedoms of the air granted to designated carriers. The authors conclude that Russia has a groundwork for further liberalization of air traffic in terms of increasing commercial rights granted to both foreign and Russian air carriers engaged in international air traffic. However, there exist some legal problems that complicate the cooperation between Russia and foreign aeronautical authorities. A number of existing air service agreements need to be revised due to the fact that they do not provide for clear provisions on the freedoms of the air or contain some obsolete flight routes and outdated provisions on designated carriers. Besides, some agreements lack linguistic accuracy. The authors propose several recommendations on how to enhance the process of updating agreements, modernize the existing system of the utilization of Trans-Siberian air routes, and solve the problem of the lack of free slots at foreign airports for Russian air carriers. In addition, they make a proposition to simplify the law-making process concerning air service agreements by means of a model agreement on air traffic that might be approved by a resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation.