A meeting with Deputy Prime Ministers: On approving child transport regulations and corresponding amendments to Traffic Regulations; on supporting regional air transport.
Dmitry Medvedev’s introductory remarks
Transcript:
Meeting with deputy prime ministers
Dmitry Medvedev: Today we’ll discuss several issues, starting with traffic security, a subject that concerns everyone, given the onset of winter, icy roads, traffic accidents and so on. School vacations are around the corner, with trips for schoolchildren, including coach trips and tourist travel. This makes us focus on transit security. I’ve signed a government resolution to modify traffic regulations and to layout a number of concepts related to transporting children. The resolution also introduces certain changes to vehicle specifications when used for this purpose and approves special rules that outline stricter requirements for drivers, the maintenance of buses, onboard safety equipment and navigation gear. It also adds regulations on how children are to be escorted. I hope that all schools and organisations that are planning trips of this kind will closely follow the guidelines in this package of documents.
Dmitry Medvedev: "Government subsidises air companies to perform flights rather than carry a specified number of passengers, as before. The five months since July have shown that this mechanism has been more effective than certain other programmes. Overall, 180,000 passengers were flown, 190,000 tickets were sold, and perhaps even more important, 54 new regional air routes have been started."
Yet another issue related to people and, naturally, money (because in one way or another all our decisions are ultimately about funding) is how to support regional air travel. This subject cropped up quite often as I talked to people during my visits to Siberia, the Russian Far East, the Urals, and the Volga Federal District. We have approved a number of decisions to expand domestic air travel under a special programme that came into effect last July. This Government subsidises air companies to perform flights rather than carry a specified number of passengers, as before. The five months since July have shown that this mechanism has been more effective than certain other programmes. Overall, 180,000 passengers were flown, 190,000 tickets were sold, and perhaps even more important, 54 new regional air routes have been started. This is a very good result.
I think that this system of subsidies should be expanded and people are urging us to do this. This year we earmarked 1.35 billion roubles for this purpose. Next year, despite certain problems, we’ll allocate 3.5 billion roubles. As we distribute these allocations, we should take into account the specific features and requirements of the Far Eastern and the Siberian Federal districts, and those of the Russian Far North, of course. We should increase the number of airports receiving subsidised flights. This is a comprehensive task. Our goal for next year is to enable 700,000 passengers to travel by subsidised flights and to open 150 new routes.
Dmitry Medvedev: "Our goal for next year is to enable 700,000 passengers to travel by subsidised flights and to open 150 new routes."
I think that the people will support both, because this is indeed a very urgent problem in our vast country. We have drafted resolutions to change the subsidy rules. Mr Dvorkovich, you have been involved in this; please say a few words on this matter.
Arkady Dvorkovich: Mr Medvedev, colleagues, several different programmes are in effect this year, including the one you have mentioned. Three main programmes are left for next year. Resolutions have been signed on the two that cover subsidies for travel to and from the Kaliningrad Region and air travel for young people and pensioners from the Far Eastern Federal District to major airports in European Russia. All other routes will be subsidised under the resolution you are to sign and just told us about.
The main figures have been determined as well. Let me mention some key parameters.
Arkady Dvorkovich:"The distance eligible for subsidies is at least 2,400 kilometres if a gateway airport is in the Far Eastern Federal District, and 1,200 kilometres for others. But the distance can be of any length if routes are co-financed and co-subsidised by Russian regions."
First, the distance eligible for subsidies is at least 2,400 kilometres if a gateway airport is in the Far Eastern Federal District, and 1,200 kilometres for others. But the distance can be of any length if routes are co-financed and co-subsidised by Russian regions. Basically, any routes can be included in the aid plan if they are co-funded, but the Federal Government focuses on especially long routes and particularly remote populated localities. This is our number one priority, and we provide a list of these localities. This long list primarily includes communities in the Russian Extreme North and the Far East, as well as in Asian and European Russia.
Second, the draft document calls for increasing the number of operational airport hubs from eight to 18. This makes it possible to meet nationwide demand and to handle transits via airport hubs from the remotest communities to other regions, including southern Russia. If necessary, these airport hubs can also handle passenger flights carrying holidaymakers to other countries.
Third, we prioritise air carriers using Russian airplanes. When two or more carriers ask us for specific routes, we will subsidise those companies, which use Russian airplanes.
Dmitry Medvedev: But there is one issue here. We have very old Russian-made airplanes, and sometimes flying on them is a terrifying experience. And there are also new foreign airplanes, including those, which have been purchased by the regions. I don’t think that …
Arkady Dvorkovich: We are only talking about modern Russian airplanes.
Dmitry Medvedev: Are you talking about new airplanes, which have been purchased by the regions?
Arkady Dvorkovich: Only new airplanes.
The number of passengers annually travelling on any specific route is the next parametre. We stipulate maximum cut-away levels at 8,000 passengers in all federal districts, except the Far Eastern Federal District where the maximum cut-away level is 10,000 passengers. Here is the following issue… We have eight routes, which receive subsidies this year, and which carry more passengers. Today, we will coordinate decisions making it possible to preserve partial subsidies for these routes, although they already post impressive passenger traffic volumes.
There is a strict and clear criterion regarding the number of weekly flights, which should be performed by companies wishing to join the subsidies programme. The companies are ready to do this. The targets for the Russian Far East, Far Eastern regions are smaller, and they make it possible to launch this programme and these routes. And, finally, it is possible to reduce the number of winter flights, because fewer passengers fly in winter and because demand is lower than it is in summer.
Arkady Dvorkovich: "There is a strict and clear criterion regarding the number of weekly flights, which should be performed by companies wishing to join the subsidies programme. The companies are ready to do this. The targets for the Russian Far East, Far Eastern regions are smaller, and they make it possible to launch this programme and these routes."
Of course, there are also efficiency indicators. For instance, various routes can be included in the programme or omitted from it, depending on the situation with specific flights. But, of course, you have named the final statistics. We must carry at least 700,000 passengers each year, and we expect to open 150 new routes. This is important for people in very many Russian regions.
Dmitry Medvedev: Yes, in reality, this is very important. I hope that all of this will start functioning in full volume, just like you and we are discussing this today. I will sign the document, and it will be published in the near future.
Thank you.
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