Georgian Airways carries on protest at Tbilisi airport, threatens to paralyze it on Friday evening
TBILISI. Dec 11 (Interfax) - Georgian Airways employees are holding a preemptive demonstration at Tbilisi international airport to protest against the high frequency of flights between Tbilisi and Moscow by Russian airlines.
"We are holding a preemptive action today and will completely paralyze the airport next evening unless our demands are met," Georgian Airways General Director Iase Zautashvili told reporters.
Georgian Airways suspended direct regular flights between Tbilisi and Moscow on December 10.
Tour operators which charter Georgian Airways planes for transportation of their clients and students of Tbilisi Aviation University have joined the protest in a demonstration of solidarity.
The protesters insist that the July 8 note which gives Russian airlines the right to make an unlimited number of flights between Tbilisi and Moscow be repealed and and air traffic to Russia on the terms which existed before November 2006 be restored.
Negotiations between Georgian Airways and the Civil Aviation Administration resulted in a promise to meet only one of its demands: ten weekly flights conducted by Georgian and Russian airlines each.
The protesters want the negotiations to be held in Georgia and a possibility for Georgian Airways flights to other cities in Russia to be discussed.
Another demand is that the Civil Aviation Administration be separated from the Economy and Sustainable Development Ministry and staffed with professional personnel capable of holding negotiations and protecting national interests.
Russia and Georgia announced the resumption of regular air flights between Moscow and Tbilisi on September 15, 2014.
Aeroflot - Russian Airlines resumed daily flights between Moscow and Tbilisi on October 27 and was accused of selling its tickets at dumping prices by Georgian Airways.
Regular air traffic between Russia and Georgia was disrupted in August 2008. Flights resumed in August 2010. Until recently all direct flights between the two countries were chartered and operated by Russia's Sibir (S7) and Ural Airlines, and Georgia's Georgian Airways.
