Statistics are generally positive, but need to be interpreted with some caution (212 words)

Published: 10/19/2001

Aeroflot has reported that its traffic figures in September rose by 15.2% over September 2000, totalling 569,300 passengers during the month. The company conceded that US traffic was down by 23% and Japan, by 18.4%, although it attributes the declines largely to the general economic climate. Commercial and seat load factors for the month were surprisingly strong at 55.7% and 68.6% respectively. Aeroflot cites these as being above the levels of the industry as a whole, but did not make any year-on-year comparison. Previous reports, however, indicate a decline of 1.2% and 1.9% respectively. Fleet utilisation also continued to improve, with an increase in hours flown of 2.5% and average hours flown by each aircraft in flying condition at 10.2 hours, although the average per aircraft in the fleet of six hours gives some idea of the condition of the fleet. It also illustrates - yet again - the airline's dependence on its foreign aircraft, with the Boeing 767s giving 15.6 hours of use, in marked contrast to the average for the airline's Tu-134 that managed only 6.8 hours. Foreign aircraft, along with the airline's Il-96-300, provided 59.3% of the RPK (58.6% in September 2000).

Article ID: 2838