Providing information in electronic form significantly reduces the paperwork time for the carrier and the total time needed for customs officials to carry out customs procedures.
MOSCOW – Aeroflot, in partnership with the Russian Federal Customs Service (FCS), has become the first Russian airline to fully introduce an automaticised information system to provide advance information about aircraft and goods transported on international flights.
The system eliminates the need for hard copies when preparing an aircraft’s General Declaration. The General Declaration includes information about the aircraft, its supplies, passengers and goods, and is necessary for customs purposes and decision-making by customs officials.
Providing information in electronic form significantly reduces the paperwork time for the carrier and the total time needed for customs officials to carry out customs procedures. This optimises cargo deliveries and expedites receipt of goods by the consignee. Customs control quality remains unchanged, as information processing begins prior to the arrival of aircraft and can be carried out either automatically or by an official in person.
Aeroflot had worked to introduce electronic declarations in collaboration with the FCS as part of implementation of a Eurasian Economic Commisson resolution. In 2013, Aeroflot and the FCS began developing automaticised information systems for electronic customs declarations for aircraft. Preliminary testing began in 2016, and the system was successfully implemented for commercial use in 2017.
Aeroflot continues cooperation with the FCS on transitioning to full electronic interaction in providing advance information prior to goods release.
Aeroflot’s On-Board Meals Named Best in Russia and CIS
Aeroflot has won the Best On-Board Meals in Russia and CIS and Best Special Meals nominations at Business Traveller’s prestigious High Taste Awards.
The awards were presented in Russia for the first time at a ceremony on June 7 at Moscow’s Radisson Royal hotel.
Category winners were determined based on an online poll of readers of the Russian online edition of Business Traveller from May 12 to June 4. The poll was organised in conjunction with flight ticket search engine Aviasales and mobile operator Beeline. “Everyone who has ever been on a plane” could participate, with more than 150 Russian and international airlines available to vote for.
There were five different nominations for business-class meals: Russia and CIS; Europe; Asia; Middle East; and best special in-flight menu. Aeroflot received high appraisal for passengers’ convenience and comfort at all stages of the flight as well as for its delicious, healthy and diverse menu.
Aeroflot offers 17 different menus including vegetarian and many others tailored to passengers with medical conditions or religious requirements.
Aeroflot constantly monitors passengers’ preferences through crowdsourced surveys. Lately, passengers have been speaking in favour of a wider variety of traditional Russian dishes. As a result, on June 1, Aeroflot introduced a special Russian menu on direct flights from Moscow. For business-class passengers the menu is available on all flights, while in economy class the menu is served on flights longer than three hours.
Traditional Russian Tula gingerbread was also introduced as part of the standard economy-class meal on Aeroflot flights from Moscow.
This is not the first time that Aeroflot’s on-board meals have received high recognition. In 2015, Aeroflot was named among the top 10 airlines globally with best on-board meals according to US travel magazine Global Traveler.
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
