Aigle Azur suspends launch of Paris-Beijing route

French airline Aigle Azur has been forced to postpone the start of regular service between Paris and Beijing until the first quarter of 2015 until Russian civil aviation authorities allow its aircraft to fly through Russian airspace. Russia maintains that under its bilateral agreement with France, only French-registered aircraft can fly through its airspace and since Aigle Azur plans to fly aircraft on the route leased from Chinese partner Hainan Airlines.  French authorities claims that the agreement applies to aircraft operated by French airlines regardless of registration. Until the disagreement is resolved, Aigle Azur is planning to lease two French-registered