Now that terrorism has become one of the major risks of air travel, the international aviation insurance market, where Aeroflot operates, is planning to introduce an amendment that would exclude from insurance liability coverage the risks arising from the hostile use of radioactive substances, chemical and biological materials, and electromagnetic impulse devices.
This amendment will be introduced as aviation insurance policies are restored, Mr. Slyusar said. On the other hand, owing to changes in the requirements by European governments and aviation authorities as well as to developments on the aviation insurance market, most of Russian air carriers may find themselves in an embarrassing situation next year, he warned. "The substantial rise in the limits of liability to passengers and third persons may lead to a significant increase of the insurance costs and, consequently, to higher fares," he said.
According to Mr. Slyusar, Aeroflot agrees with the International Civil Aviation Organization that states are the actual targets of terrorist attacks while the air travel infrastructure is only a vehicle for carrying out such attacks.
In view of that, Russian air carriers expect the government to provide them with terrorism risk insurance guarantees in 2005, the Aeroflot official said.
