Russia Faces Passenger Aeroplane and Ship Shortage

Russia is facing a serious shortage of passenger aeroplanes and ships. As a Rosbalt correspondent reports, this was announced on Tuesday by Deputy Russian Transport Minister Boris Novoseltsev at a meeting with managers of Russian state transport agencies in various regions of Russia. He said that over the last three years 'many users of rail transport have begun using air and sea transport instead. In the holiday seasons there is already a visible shortage of passenger ships,' the deputy minister said.

Mr Novoseltsev added that within the next two years experts expect the demand for air tickets 'to far exceed the capabilities of Russian aeroplanes.' He also emphasised that many Russian aeroplanes and ships would have to be renovated within the near future.