Possible cooperation, in bid to boost Russian passenger traffic (418 words)

Published: 5/27/2001

There is more evidence of Lufthansa's efforts to improve the flow of Russian passengers into its network in reports of a two-day visit, on 23rd and 24th May, by Frank Langsdorf, Manager of Lufthansa Perm office, to Syktyvkar, capital of the Komi Republic, at the invitation of Vladimir Fedorov, GD of GUP Komiaviatrans, which is based in Syktyvkar. Langsdorf said that the purpose of the visit was to familiarise himself with the republic. During his visit, he met Alexander Okatov, Deputy Head of Komi, the management of the Komi aviation enterprises and tourist agencies and visited the new Syktyvkar airport, which is currently under construction. Langsdorf was reported by the local press to have commented that the level of service at Komiinteravia matched international requirements, so distinguishing the company from many other Russian companies, but that it was premature to talk specifically about any cooperation between Lufthansa and Komi. According to Okatov, Komi would be happy to cooperate with Lufthansa. There is little doubt that Lufthansa's involvement in the construction of Syktyvkar's new airport at a former air force base would be welcomed. The project has been in progress for almost 20 years and, in September 2000, was reported in September to be 75% complete and ready for operation in 2002. However, it continues to have financing problems. Okatov claims that Lufthansa is interested in the use of the airport as a transit point for connection to its international flights. Off the record, however, sources within the Komi Department of the GSGA have said that little can be expected from Lufthansa, until the airport is completed. Komiinteravia and Komiaviatrans are the only two airlines left in Komi, after the bankruptcy of Komiavia last year. Komiinteravia was established from a part of the bankrupt carrier's fleet of Tu-134s and An-24s, and is reported to have operated profitably in 2000, generating Rb305m ($10.5m) of revenues and Rb11m (almost $0.4m) of profit. The airline also leases some of its Tu-134s to Aeroflot. Currently, the airline is in a stable financial condition, but has tax debts, and as with many other carriers, has an ageing fleet, that will be grounded within five years, as life limits expire. Komiaviatrans is also breaking even, using its Mi-10s, Mi-8Ts, Mi-8MTVs, and Mi-2s in Usinsk (Komi), Tyumen, Astrakhan and Krasnodar, mainly for oil companies. Several months ago, it sold its Mi-26s, owing to lack of working capital to overhaul them.

Article ID: 2562