Scheduled passenger route from the airport (430 words)

Published: 8/22/2000

Since 2nd August 2000 Ryazanaviatrans, based at Ryazan south east of Moscow, has started operating its first regular passenger route from Moscow's Domodedovo Airport to the Black Sea resort of Gelendzhik using an An-24 plane three times per week. According to Alexander Dolzhenko, Deputy General Director of Ryazanaviatrans, although this is the first scheduled flight from Domodedovo, the airline has been using the airport for charter flights for some time, flying cargo and passengers to both domestic and international destinations. Dolzhenko reports that the airline now has an average load factor of 70% on its flights, but the load factors to Gelendzik are running at almost 100% outbound as passengers begin their vacations in Russian traditional holiday period. The company says that it will reduce frequency in the period after the end of the vacation season in response to volumes, and will cease to service the route if volumes dry up altogether. According to Dolzhenko, the route was due to be opened in May 2000, but the delays in obtaining its route licence, as with many other carriers due to the reorganisation of the FSVT, meant it missed the beginning of the season. The company plans to open more regular routes from Domodedovo Airport, which the airline considers as a 'sensible tariff structure', but Dolzhenko says their route research to date has shown few routes that can sustain a high load factor of 70% Ryazanaviatrans, headed by Vladimir Vorobiov, Director General, and based at Turlatovo Airport in Ryazan, was founded as an open joint stock company in 1995 as a result of reorganisation of the 16th Flight group of the Ryazan State Air Enterprise. Its primary business is the provision of air support to various enterprises in its region and government agencies but it is registered with ICAO for international flights. In June 2000 the state sold its 25.5% stake in the company, but while acknowledging the sale, Dolzhenko refused to comment on who had bought the shares and the payment made, saying that the details were commercial secrets. He also would not reveal the identity of the airline's other shareholders for the same reason. The airline has one large investment programme for the development of a passenger/cargo airport in the region called 'Free Airport Diagilevo' based on an air force base and shared with the air force. The company has however been unable to raise the $1.4m to get the project underway and does not expect to have much luck in the near future.

Article ID: 2015