Plans to start carrying passengers from Prague to Netherlands in 2001(640 words)

Published: 4/20/2001

Ural Airlines experienced almost unchanged traffic figures for 2000 over 1999 carrying 476623 passengers during the year. The company also carried 4816 tonnes of cargo and mail or 12% more than in 1999. While the company did not report its load factors, it did comment that in the face of competition it had kept its share of its major routes. Stating that it was place 8th on international passenger routes among 260 Russian carriers and 11th on domestic routes. Tickets prices during the year rose by 15%, it is unclear however, whether they offset the impact of the 25% hike in fuel costs for the airline in 2000. Ural Airlines operates to 80 destinations out of Ekaterinburg with regular international flights to the Czech Republic, UAE, Turkey, and China, with an additional 20 destinations being served as charter routes. In 2000 together with traditional charter business to resorts of Cyprus, Turkey, Italy, Bulgaria, Spain, Israel it performed new charter routes to Sri Lanka, Kenya, and France. In 2000 the company introduced a new route to Prague and signed interline agreement with Czech Airlines (CSA) offering onward travel to CSA's more than to 20 destinations out of Prague. Despite the lack lustre numbers in 2000, the airline developed its business with regional corporates creating special deals with 60 major companies of Sverdlov region such as Kalina Concern (cosmetics producer), Nizhny Tagil Metal Plant, Sverdlovenergo, which the company says is benefiting its business. In June 2001 Ural Airlines will introduce its frequent flyer programme. The airline's fleet of 4 Il-86, 15 Tu-154 and 3 An-24 was partially equipped to meet Eurocontrol 1st April 2001 TCAS deadline with 7 aircraft equipped with the system at a cost of $1.5 m. The airline also made further upgrades including ORLAN, KLN-90B satellite navigation system and RVSM to meet standards after the 1st of April 2002 for flights to Europe and America. In 2001 more aircraft will be re-equipped as Ural Airlines plans to increase flights abroad. The airline also added that it believed only 18 airlines out of 53 Russian airlines, which decided to install TCAS, could find money to make re-equip on time. The fleet has also being undergoing upgrade of cabins, with an Il-86 due to return to service from overhaul on the 29th of April with new interior which will be applied to several other aircraft according to the company. In 2000 the company opened more its own ticket offices to be closer to its passengers and in 2001 it plans to open 5 more ticket offices in Sverdlov region. In 2000 it added to 11 its representative offices (Moscow, Sochi, Khabarovsk, Yerevan, Baku, Tbilisi, Tashkent, Cologne, Dubai) a new representative offices in Prague. In June 2001 Ural will give its passenger the opportunity to book tickets via Internet. In 2001 Ural Airlines has ambitious plans. It has received permission from the Czech Ministry of Transportation to carry Czech passengers from Prague to foreign destinations and plans to open routes from Prague to the Netherlands, France and Spain. In airline gained rights for regular flights to all airports of Turkey and UAE and is currently looking at opening routes to these areas. In summer schedule of 2001 Ural Airlines increases frequencies on traditionally popular in summer destinations (Sochi, Anapa, Mineral Waters, Astrakhan, Krasnodar, Rostov, Sartor, and Samara). It plans to open new route to Khudzhand (Tajikistan), Vladivostok and Belgorod. As for charter routes Ural got order to fly to Tunisia and Mallorca together with orders to traditional destination. From May 2001 in an effort to improve ground services for its passengers, Ural will offer passengers arriving at Ekaterinburg free bus transfer to the city. Following the introduction of free bus transfers for passengers on the Ekaterinburg -Moscow route from aircraft to subway station at Domodedovo Airport in Moscow on the 15th of March 2001,

Article ID: 2500