MOSCOW, March 11 - RAPSI, Sergei Feklyunin. The Moscow Commercial Court registered the defamation lawsuit by Aeroflot, Russia's largest airline, against the Izvestia newspaper, the court told the Russian Legal Information Agency (RAPSI/rapsinews.ru).

The lawsuit was submitted to the court on March 6, the hearing date has yet to be scheduled.

Aeroflot reported in late February, that Izvestia's February 29 article about its pilots, damaged the airline's reputation and it would go to court to protect its reputation.

The publication reads, in part, that due to excessive workload pilots sometimes fall asleep right at the helm.

The airline urged all media not to publish the Izvestia information .

RAPSI has yet to obtain comments from the parties.

Aeroflot is a member of the SkyTeam air alliance, based at the Sheremetyevo International Airport. The Federal Agency for State Property Management is Aeroflot's primary shareholder, with a 51.17 percent stake in the company. It flies to 898 destinations in 169 countries.