Pobeda to continue foreign flights despite U.S. sanctions - Aeroflot CEO

ST. PETERSBURG. June 7 (Interfax) - Pobeda, the Aeroflot Group's low-cost airline, will continue to make international flights in the summer season, despite U.S. sanctions, Aeroflot CEO Sergei Aleksandrovsky said.

"There are currently no restrictions for airline Pobeda to continue carrying out international flights. In the summer season we plan to operate all announced routes. Furthermore, a winter schedule program has already been put together, flights are already on sale," Aleksandrovsky told reporters on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Pobeda being hit by U.S. sanctions was "not some surprise or stress," he said. "We were absolutely ready [for sanctions] and are always ready. We understood and understand how to correct the situation in the event of a worse scenario," Aleksandrovsky said.

Pobeda, along with some other Russian companies, was hit by U.S. sanctions at the beginning of May. Industry experts said at the time that this could restrict the airline's international flights. However, Deputy Transport Minister Vitaly Savelyev told Interfax that Pobeda would continue to fly abroad, as it "flies where we don't have the risk of aircraft being seized or some ban on servicing. Pobeda flew and is flying."

Pobeda's international routes now include flights to Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Belarus, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. The airline has a fleet of 42 Boeing 737-800 jets with only economy class seating.