A meeting of Federal Antimonopoly Service in Sverdlovsk Region devoted to alleged violation of antimonopoly law by Koltsovo airport took place on March 20, 2007. At the beginning of the year, the airport was found guilty of using monopolist practices and violating the federal law on protection of competition. Once again, the airport’s management appears to be trying to exert pressure on carriers through signing agreements which provide for a 100% advance payment covering all the expenses occasioned by the aircraft maintenance, fuel, and food in the given month, reports the spokesperson for Ural Airlines. The agreement also makes it obligatory for a carrier to pay a fine in case the regularity of flights is violated; there is a 100,000 RUR penalty for delay in payments or any other deviation from the agreement. Such a contract leaves no airline that performs flights from Yekaterinburg satisfied.

The meeting of Federal Antimonopoly Service was attended by executives from Aeroflot, Russia State Transport Company, Transaero, and Ural Airlines (the region’s leading carrier). Russia State Transport Company decided to renew its agreement with the airport until a new version of the contract has been drawn up; Aeroflot, Transaero, and Ural Airlines preferred to send the lists of points they disagree upon to the airport’s management. These lists haven’t been signed by Koltsovo executives yet, though.

The carriers’ refusal to sign a contract on such terms has to do with the fact that they would have to get the money for the advance payment through possible increase in the ticket prices. At the moment, Ural Airlines has to spend an average of 200 million RUR a month to cover ground maintenance. Besides, the airlines suggested counterbalancing fines imposed on them with respective penalties for the airport if, for instance, it becomes the cause of a flight delay, reports the spokesperson for Ural Airlines.

The case is to be further considered after Sverdlovsk Region Court of Arbitration processes the petition of Koltsovo airport that aims to impugn the decision of Antimonopoly Service in Sverdlovsk Region made on December 19, 2006 regarding settlement of conflicts related to ground maintenance agreements.