28 November 2009 - 14H44
Russia agrees French superjumbo overfly
An Air France Airbus A380 plane makes its approach to John F. Kennedy Airport November 20, in New York for the first A380 Superjumbo flight on the Paris-Charles de Gaulle to New York-JFK route. Russia has given the green light for Air France's A380 superjumbo to overfly Siberia, opening the way for a projected Paris-Tokyo service, France's Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau has said.
AFP - Russia has given the green light for Air France's A380 superjumbo to overfly Siberia, opening the way for a projected Paris-Tokyo service, Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau said Saturday.
In a statement, Bussereau said the accord was approved by Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at the end of a two-day visit to France which saw a number of business deals concluded.
Bussereau said the agreement on the A380 also allowed for more cargo flights between Paris airports and Russia, favouring Russian companies in particular, as Moscow had sought.
Air France has just begun regular commercial flights between Paris and New York with the A380 as the first European airline to use the superjumbo jet. It will also serve Johannesburg from February and then Tokyo.
The aircraft is already in use by Singapore Airlines, Gulf-based Emirates and Qantas of Australia.
Putin's trip also secured a deal for French investment in a key pipeline project and the struggling Avtovaz car maker, as well as a promise that France will consider selling Moscow a huge amphibious assault ship.
Stay tuned
