Conflicting information on merger from Krasnoyarsk

Published: 4/26/2000

As with many air transport stories from Russia there appears to be some confusion about the fate of Khakasia Airlines in the Khakasia Republic in Krasnoyarsk. The 60% government owned joint stock company has been rumoured to be under pressure to merge with Abakan Avia, a private cargo carrier based at Abakan Airport, which operates a small fleet of 2 Il-76s. It appears however, that the story of a merger being forced by the head of the region, Alexey Lebed and brother of the governor of Krasnoyarsk, Alexander Lebed. Refers to the merger of the state controlled Abakan Airport and Khakasia Airlines, which according to Nicholai Kochurov, founder and president of Abakan Avia, was the suggestion of Lebed"s deputy Arkady Sarkisyan. Kochurov said however, that Sarkisyan"s recent firing might dampen enthusiasm for some of his suggestions. On the 15th of April, a meeting of the Board of Abakan Airport did take place, but according to Kochurov did not discuss the merger of the two companies. If the merger of Abakan Airport (51% State/24% Khakasia) and Khakasia Airlines (15% State/60% Khakasia) was discussed it would be unlikely to get more than 2-3 votes in its favour according to Kochurov. He also stated that the original announcement of the merger came from Sarkisykan, who was also Chairman of Khakasia Airlines and was later denied by the airport"s general director Valery Gordeev. Khakasia Airlines are reluctant to discuss the merger plans officially, but Kochurov"s view that Sarkisykan was operating independently appears to be supported by sources within the airline, which deny merger plans, despite reports that their fleet of Tu-154 and An-24s is reported to be poor condition. The efforts to merge the two companies come after the failure of efforts to partially privatize the airport last September through the sale of a 24% holding. Associated articles www.concise.org 26th October 1999: No buyers for airport 26th August 1999: 24% of Abakan to be sold

Article ID: 1565