India, Russia to discuss aviation row next month: Praful Patel

New Delhi: India and Russia will discuss outstanding aviation related issues in order to resolve differences at a meeting in Moscow next month. According to civil aviation minister, Praful Patel, "Both sides will hold discussions on June 14-15 in Moscow on issues relating to overflights, landing rights and other aviation-related matters." The meeting has been scheduled in the wake of a near diplomatic row between the two nations over passage rights for their respective airlines a week ago.

India's Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) banned operations of Russian airlines, Aeroflot and Transco, in a tit-for-tat move to Russia's decision to bar Air India and Jet Airways flights over its airspace. Both countries stepped back from confrontation point almost immediately and blamed the standoff on a "communication gap."

The incident marked a historic first for both the countries, for this was the first time that a diplomatic row between the two countries spilled over into public space ever since both established friendly relations. The Russian decision to bar the two Indian carriers from operating their flights to London and other European destinations over its airspace could have led to increase in travel time by about an hour, and also put a heavy burden on costs.

Under a bilateral agreement, both countries allow designated carriers to fly over their respective territories, resulting in the operation of 12 frequencies between Moscow and Delhi and five between Moscow and Mumbai.