OREANDA-NEWS VTB and Sberbank are going to create a regional airline that will allow flights between cities bypassing Moscow. This information was confirmed by the head of VTB.

According to Andrei Kostin, the idea belongs to Herman Gref. "And I actively supported this idea," he said. The head of VTB denied the information that they were instructed to create a carrier in the government.

Kostin pointed out that the banks have not yet offered the Cabinet of Ministers to participate in the project, although the partnership with the state he considers necessary. "Without subsidies of regional transport, this sector will be unprofitable," — said the head of VTB, adding that estimates future investment in the project in an amount not less than $1 billion On these money banks will purchase the planes that will give the leasing operators.

The head of VTB also pointed out that while they are talking about working on the concept and finding operators. At the same time, banks do not exclude that a new carrier can be created on the basis of one of the existing companies.

"Aeroflot" has refused from the case", — he said.

In addition, Kostin admitted that the new airline will buy foreign aircraft, "because many of our airports are not suitable for Russian". "But it's all in the study," he added.

VTB and Sberbank plans to create a new carrier Vedomosti were reported on October 18, citing their sources. The publication claimed that the planned passenger traffic — 6-10 million people a year. This will automatically make the new airline one of the largest in the country.

In may, Russian President Vladimir Putin instructed to increase the share of regional flights in domestic flights to 50% by 2024. In September it became known that the implementation of the decree of the Federal air transport Agency will be asked 166 billion rubles only for the reconstruction of regional airports.