Subsidies will help airlines survive this difficult period and keep jobs.
Russian airlines will receive 23.4 billion roubles to cover their losses due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection, according to a government resolution.
President of Russia Vladimir Putin instructed the Government to support Russian air carriers.
The subsidies can be used to pay employee salaries (at least 60 percent of a subsidy), leasing costs (no more than 30 percent), aircraft storage (no more than 10 percent), and operations and property maintenance.
According to the Ministry of Transport, in order to receive the subsidy an airline must submit a package of documents to the Federal Air Transport Agency. The final decision will be made within 20 working days of a submission. Active consultations with market players were held when the resolution was drafted.
Airlines have been among the most hard-hit businesses due to the spread of the coronavirus. The state subsidies will help air carriers survive the restrictions introduces due to the difficult epidemiological situation and maintain employment in civil aviation.