Russian fans set for free flights to Euro 2012

Published: 23 Jan 2012 - 10:46:26

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Russian fans set for free flights to Euro 2012

Two of Russia's biggest airline carriers Aeroflot and Transaero indicated Monday they are ready to accept a call by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to transport the national team's fans to Euro 2012 for free.

After a meeting last week in Saint Petersburg with FIFA president Joseph Blatter and his UEFA counterpart Michel Platini, Putin met with Russian supporters group who told him that the air fares to travel to Poland and the Ukraine were too expensive.

The Prime Minister contacted the country's two largest air companies who have indicated they are favourable to the initiative for the June 8-July 1 tournament.

"We're ready to participate in this initiative, but it is still in the discussion stage," a Transaero spokesman told AFP.

"Our partner, the Gazpromneft-Aero company (fuel supplier) are in agreement to supply the fuel for the flight to Kiev," he added.

Aeroflot have also agreed to transport the fans, but the number of flights and the destinations have not yet been fixed, a spokesman told the daily Vedomosti.

Russia start their Euro campaign against the Czech Republic on June 8 in Wroclaw, Poland and four days later play hosts Poland in Warsaw. The last Group A match Russia play Greece on June 16 also in Warsaw.

The quarter-finals and semi-finals are scheduled to take place in both the Ukraine and Poland with the final in Kiev.