CODESHARING TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION -

UNCLAS VIENNA 003019

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE FOR EB/TRA/AN AND EUR/AGS

DOT FOR STEVEN HATLEY

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: EAIR AU
SUBJECT: CODESHARING TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION -

AUSTRIAN RESPONSE

REF: STATE 153814

THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED - PLEASE

PROTECT ACCORDINGLY. NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION.


1. (SBU) Post discussed reftel questions with Ingrid

Seyrlehner, Director of Air Transportation Affairs in the

Austrian Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and with her

deputy, Dieter Gaupmann. They informed us that Austria

and the Russian Federation operate under a 1993 Air

Services Agreement. An annex allows for bilateral

codesharing, but not any third-country codesharing. This

anex is not public, so the CAA is not able to share it

with us. Seyrlehner said the CAA is not aware of any

problems with the Russian codesharing agreement.


2. (SBU) Seyrlehner noted that, from their experience

with the Russians on this issue, Austria felt that Russia

would not agree to a general, unrestricted third-country

codesharing provision. Instead, Russia would probably

seek a more restrictive solution along the lines

described in reftel, i.e., specifying a list of countries

and foreign carriers that would be eligible to codeshare

with U.S. airlines. The CAA officials said Austria would

allow Austrian Airlines (AUA) to carry passengers on a

U.S. codeshare to Russia. However, Seyrlehner was unsure

whether Russia would agree to such an arrangement.


3. (SBU) The CAA officials characterized the Russian

policy as restrictive, based on a regulated market and

strict control of air traffic policy. Seyrlehner noted

that this approach was contrary to the USG's promotion of

open skies.


4. (U) Currently, AUA has a codesharing agreement with

United Airlines.

BROWN