India and Russia came close to a diplomatic stand-off after Moscow decided to ban Air India and Jet from its airspace, prompting a counter from New Delhi.
NEW DELHI: India and Russia on Tuesday came dangerously close to a diplomatic stand-off after Moscow decided to ban Air India and Jet Airways from its airspace, prompting a counter from New Delhi -- but the two made up at the last minute.
The episode could have put a blot on the traditionally friendly relations that the two countries share.
Before Moscow withdrew its decision to bar the two Indian carriers from using its airspace from June 15, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) asked two Russian airlines --Aeroflot and Transco -- not to operate to India from Tuesday night.
But both countries went back on their decisions late in the evening, official sources said, blaming the fiasco on "communication gap".
Russia's decision to bar the two Indian airlines from operating their flights to London and other European destinations through the Russian airspace could have led to increase in travel time by about an hour.
The decision could also have affected the Flight Duty Time Limitation of the cockpit and cabin crew, which governs their duty hours.
India and Russia, as per a bilateral agreement reviewed last year, have agreed to allow their designated carriers to fly over their respective territories on the promulgated air traffic services route and as per their respective schedules.
The agreement allows operation of 12 frequencies between Moscow and Delhi and five between Moscow and Mumbai.
The Indian aviation regulatory body has also written a similar letter to Malaysia Airlines asking it to explain why its operations to India should not be stopped. It has also sought to know the reasons for Malaysian authorities not allowing Air India Express and Air Sahara to operate to and from Kuala Lumpur.
Official sources said on Tuesday night that the problem with the Malaysian authorities not granting rights to Air India Express and Air Sahara was being sorted out.
The sources said both the Indian carriers would be given official sanction by the Malay authorities to fly to Kuala Lumpur.
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