Aeroflot is to launch a direct flight from Moscow to Dublin even as Ireland’s relations with the Kremlin chill following the expulsion of one of their diplomats. A source at the carrier said a decision had been taken in Moscow to proceed with a direct flight although the company has yet to decide when it will commence and its frequency. Aeroflot, which is controlled by the Kremlin, has an almost 50% share of the Russia’s domestic market. A direct flight to Dublin could lead to an acceleration in trade and tourism between the two countries. Industry sources were unable to say whether the scandal over the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and the subsequent diplomatic fallout would affect the timing of the launch. However, there is confidence that it will not be derailed by the current tensions. <br/>
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Aeroflot had a group of stranded passengers deported to India, even though they were US citizens according to a report. The events occurred in January but became public now after a US DoT complaint was filed against the airline. The passengers were attempting to fly from New Delhi to New York. Their itinerary included a stopover in Moscow, which is where they became stranded when their connecting flight to New York was cancelled due to snow. According to the complaint, Aeroflot staff told the 4 Americans — who are of South Asian descent — there were no seats available on any other flights to New York. They also claim that they were denied transit visas, which made their prolonged stay in Moscow illegal. Aeroflot said: “We clearly fell short of our customary high standards of service in this incident". <br/>
Air France unions representing both flight crews and ground staff announced Sunday a new 2-day strike for April 10 and 11, the latest move in its pay dispute with the carrier since February. The new dates are in addition to plans to strike Tuesday and Saturday, in the same week that workers of the French rail operator SNCF also begin a series of strike days. Sunday, the 3 pilot unions slammed the "obstinate refusal" of the airline's management "to take into consideration the least of their demands." The pilots have been joined by unions representing flight attendants and ground personnel, which later said Air France "does not take seriously the determination of the employees and the unions." Management insists it cannot offer higher salaries without jeopardising growth in an intensely competitive sector. <br/>
Air France staff went on strike Friday for the third time in a month, forcing the airline to cancel a quarter of flights as multiple industrial disputes weigh on president Emmanuel Macron's workload. Some 32% of Air France pilots were set to join the walkout Friday along with 28% of cabin crew and 20% of ground staff, according to company estimates. Eleven trade unions have already staged 2 strikes Feb 22 and March 23 seeking a 6% salary hike. Air France is set to bring in a 0.6% pay rise from April 1 and 0.4% from Oct 1, along with bonuses and promotions equivalent to a 1.4% raise for ground staff. A spokesman said the airline was running 76% of planned flights Friday, including 80% of long-haul departures. But at some French airports, such as Nice, as many as half of Air France flights were cancelled. <br/>