MOSCOW, January 17 - RAPSI, Alyona Yegorova. A commercial court of appeals held in favor of the dismissal of the lawsuit by Domodedovo Airport Commercial Agency to recover $11.16 million from Vnukovo Airport, the defendant told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.com) on Tuesday.

The dispute stems from the 2008 bankruptcy of AiRUnion, which comprised KrasAir, Domodedovo Airlines, Samara, Omskavia and Sibaviatrans. The Domodedovo airport served as AiRUnion's hub. However, the airport refused to provide ground services to the alliance in August 2008, in view of its spiraling debt.

Air regulators decided to transfer AiRUnion to Vnukovo in order for the alliance to fulfill its remaining scheduled flights. Vnukovo Airport acted as guarantor of AiRUnion's debt to the Domodedovo Airport Commercial Agency, guaranteeing repayment of AirUnion's debt from August 12, 2008 until the alliance's relocation to Vnukovo was to be completed on September 7, 2008.

The commercial agency is recovering from Domodedovo Airlines the debt for the rendered services, via the $11.16 million lawsuit.