While US and Russian spies were being swapped on a tarmac, the U.S.A. was represented by a private charter jet. The business of Vision Airlines is typically escape travel, got the contract for this flight. Government business being done by private contractors – not unusual, but some have questioned the choice.
Spies swapped using Vision Airlines
This morning, a Vision Airlines jet met up with a Russian Emergency Ministry Jet in Vienna. Ten accused Russian agents got on the Russian plane while four “Western Sympathizers” got on the Vision Airlines jet. The biggest post-Cold War era spy drama was hopefully over once both planes took off.
Why Vision Airlines got the gig
The decision to send the Russian agents back home and bring the American agents back to the U.S. on a luxury charter jet is an interesting one. Russia had a much more official way of handling the situation. Was the choice of a luxury jet meant to pamper spies? Or were all the accessible planes already taken? It is very possible that the government agreed that no military planes were to be used on other sides. Either way, the choice of a luxury charter jet to swap spies is an interesting one. No word on if the several thousand dollar flight fee was donated, or if the bill is going to the government. Vision Airlines is certainly getting attention for the choice – their site has crashed multiple times today.
Keeping tepid relations going
Reportedly, the President was continually briefed on most decisions involved with the spy swap. Avoiding as much conflict as possible seemed to be one of the biggest goals of the decisions made. Both of the countries have expressed a desire to keep the tepid relations from again turning cold.
