Kremlin: Obliging officials to fly national airlines in line with world practice

Putin’s instruction that Russian government officials should fly domestic airlines if they go on business trips is in line with world practice, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists commenting reports that the head of state had signed a decree obliging officials travelling on business trip to use the services of Russian air companies or the air carriers of countries members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). "Many countries apply this practice. If business trips and flights are subsidized from the state budget, the state has the right to demand that its servants use the services of the national carrier," Peskov explained adding there was absolutely no restrictions on choosing an airline if the flight is paid from other sources. "Practically all countries practise this kind of support for domestic air carriers," Peskov concluded. The presidential decree signed on September 30 makes a few exceptions. Government officials can use the services of foreign airlines in case Russian and EAEU air carriers do not fly to the place of destination and if tickets to that destination are unavailable for the entire period of a business trip.