The International Air Transport Association (IATA) proposed an agenda to strengthen aviation in Russia based on the further implementation of global standards and best practices.

A healthy aviation sector is vital for Russia—connecting the communities across the country’s vast land mass and proving vital trade and cultural links globally.

“These are difficult times for Russian aviation and there is no silver bullet solution to invigorating the sector. However a partnership agenda that extends the positive impact that global standards are having in safety and distribution will strengthen the foundations of the sector for success,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Tyler made his comments at the first IATA Aviation Day Russia where IATA signed a cooperation agreement with the Russian Association of Air Transport Operators. The agreement helps to mark the 20th anniversary of the opening of IATA’s office in Moscow and deepens IATA’s overall partnership with Russian aviation.

Aeroflot was IATA’s first Russian member airline, joining the association in 1989. Today 11 Russian airlines are IATA members.

The important contribution of IATA’s global standards to Russian aviation were recognized in a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the Russian Ministry of Transport and IATA in 2009.

“IATA is a long-time partner of Russian aviation and this has created significant value. The IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) aligns some 400 airlines—including our 11 Russian members and five other Russian airlines—with the global benchmark for operational safety. And the Billing and Settlement Plan has helped to link the country’s consumers to the world with global best practices for ticket distribution. Today we are deepening our partnership with Russia with a commitment to cooperate even more broadly with the Russian Association of Air Transport Operators. By working in partnership with all stakeholders—including the government—I am confident that we can create even more value with connectivity as a catalyst for economic and social development,” said Tyler.

IATA proposed the following agenda for the Russian government:

Costs:

• Continue to recognize the benefits of lowering and eventually removing VAT for domestic air transport.
• Ensure that airport charges and infrastructure developments are agreed by airlines and the airport operators with a focus on cost-efficiency and aligned with the global principles agreed by governments through the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These include transparency, meaningful consultation and non-discrimination.

Smarter Regulation:

• Adopt the Montreal Convention 1999 (MC99) to provide global standard risk coverage for passengers and shippers and to facilitate e-cargo implementation.
• Ratify the Montreal Protocol 2014 of the Tokyo Convention to close a gap in international law with respect to the growing problem of disruptive passengers.
• Accelerate the adoption of the global standard for special and atmospheric referencing—QNH and WGS 84—to deliver even greater safety and cost benefits as Russia modernizes its air traffic management system.
• Join the Smart Security initiative of IATA and Airports Council International to improve airport security and reduce passenger hassle by combining new technology with regulatory best practices.

Environment:

• Support a global agreement through ICAO on a Market-Based Measure to manage aviation’s carbon footprint. The air transport industry is united in its call for a mandatory global carbon offset scheme.