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In October 2012, Aeroflot General-Director [[Vitaly Savelyev]] held a meeting with [[Russian President]] [[Vladimir Putin]] at [[Novo-Ogaryovo|the residence]] of the latter at which the operations of the Russian [[flag carrier]] and the creation of conditions optimal for the operation of [[low-cost airline]]s in Russia were discussed. During the meeting Savelyev told Putin that Aeroflot was committed to staying a full-service premium airline, but given the right legislative conditions the flag carrier would be ready to launch a low-cost airline in a six to twelve month period.<ref name=putinmeeting-oct2012>{{cite web|title=Meeting with General Director of Aeroflot Vitaly Savelyev|url=http://eng.kremlin.ru/news/4567|website=Kremlin.ru|publisher=[[Presidential Press and Information Office]]|accessdate=17 September 2014|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6Sez93V7r|archivedate=17 September 2014|date=26 October 2012}}</ref>
Experts had attributed part of the failure of SkyExpress and Avianova to unfavourable legislative conditions and during the course of the meeting, Savelyev noted the legislative changes which would need to implemented to create favourable conditions for the establishment of a true low-cost airline in Russia.<ref name=rbth-17july2014 /><ref name=putinmeeting-oct2012 /> Amongst them, Article 108 of the Russian Air Code would need to be amended in order to allow airlines to sell passengers non-refundable tickets and Article 56 of the Russian Air Code would need to be amended to allow the hiring of foreign pilots. Federal aviation rules would need amending to allow for airlines to charge passengers for baggage, who were then allowed to check in 10 kilograms for no charge, and rules would need to be amended to allow airlines not to serve meals onboard, something which was then prohibited. Additionally, it was Savelyev's contention that low-cost airlines should operate from their own airport, in order to keep [[airport tax]]es to a minimum
For his part, Putin agreed with Savelyev that numerous legislative changes should be looked at, but was hesitant to lend his support on the idea of the hiring of foreign pilots as he stated this would require further indepth discussions and negotiations with the relevant trade unions.<ref name=lenta-30nov2012>{{cite news|title="Аэрофлот" рассказал Путину о способах создания лоукостера в России|url=http://lenta.ru/news/2012/11/30/lowcoster/|accessdate=19 September 2014|work=[[Lenta.ru]]|date=30 November 2012|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6ShcqDrA6|archivedate=19 September 2014|language=Russian}}</ref> Such changes were expected to hit obstacles as numerous government ministries had expressed their opposition to such changes{{mdash}}the Ministry of Transport was opposed to relaxing conditions on the serving of inflight meals and free luggage allowances; the Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry of Industry were opposed to abolishing import duties on aircraft as this would impact on the [[Irkut MC21]] program; and the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare and the Federal Antimonolopy Service were against the introduction of a non-refundable ticket regime in Russia.<ref name=lenta-30nov2012 />
===Formation===
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