New European regulations accelerate fleet's decline (179 words)

Published: 7/30/2001

According to Victor Perepelitsa, Flight Director at Aeroflot, the airline plans to decrease its Il-76 cargo fleet from eight to four. Explaining the decision, Perepelitsa said that Aeroflot had decided that, as from 1st April 2002, the Il-76 would not be able to fly to Europe, owing to the enforcement of noise and emission regulations. The ageing Aeroflot Il-76 fleet has been in decline for some time, with numbers dwindling from a reported 12 aircraft at the end of December 2000, to only four aircraft being operational, according to reports. Aeroflot is also of the view that the aircraft is uneconomical and does not meet the needs of its business. Recent reports have suggested that Aeroflot is about to acquire operational leases on three or four DC-10's, replacing the Il-76s and the existing DC-10 that ended its lease with the airline, after carrying 30% of its freight. Aeroflot has, however, said that the aircraft have proved difficult to source.

Article ID: 2670