The Uzbek embassy in Ukraine has intervened in a conflict between the airline companies Uzbekistan Airways and Ukraine International Airlines (UIA), stating that the Uzbek airline company would be forced to stop operating regular flights on the Tashkent-Kiev-Tashkent route if there is no compromise with UIA, the Interfax Ukraine news agency reports.
According to the Uzbek embassy in Ukraine, the Ukrainian authorities selected 10 companies to operate on the routes between the two countries after the signing of an agreement on air communication between the governments of the two countries, but many of these companies have stopped flying because of reorganizations and bankruptcies.
The embassy also emphasized that the use of the aviation authorities and the diplomatic corps to exert pressure on Uzbekistan Airways with the aim of obtaining the necessary slots at airports is an established practice among Ukrainian carriers.
"Currently, the airline company Ukraine International Airlines is also using this approach by putting pressure on the Uzbek side with the aim of obtaining specific slots at the Tashkent international airport despite the fact that UIA understands that it can obtain a specific slot only if the airport denies that slot to another airline company. This is unacceptable to the airport,” the embassy said in a press release.
According to the embassy, it would be logical for UIA to reach an agreement with another airline company to receive its slots. The embassy also said that Uzbekistan Airways is unable to obtain permission from the Ukraine’s State Aviation Administration to perform regular flights between Tashkent and Kyiv during winter 2013/2014.
"If UIA does not take an adequate and flexible position on the issue of obtaining slots at the Tashkent international airport and the aviation authorities of Ukraine continue to take unjustified restrictive measures against Uzbekistan Airways, the airline company will be forced to stop flying to Kyiv,” the embassy said.
To prevent disputes between the two countries’ aviation authorities in the future and prevent deterioration of cooperation on air traffic between the two countries, the Uzbek side expects a Ukrainian delegation to travel to Tashkent for talks.
Uzbekistan Airways, a national joint-stock company, was established in January 1992. It is 100% owned by the state.
