Solid results, but airline needs to address the state of its passenger and cargo fleet sooner rather than later (314 words)

Published: 10/19/2001

Following the release of its September monthly figures, Aeroflot has reported that, in the first nine months of 2001, it carried 4,624,500 passengers, an 18.7% increase on the same period in 2000, with growth coming from domestic routes representing 22.9% of total traffic. International routes brought 17.2% more passengers compared to 9mo00. The airline's seat load factors of 67.1% grew by 1.1% in the period with international routes flat at 65.5% over 65.0% in 9mo2000. Domestic load factors were maintained at high levels, growing by 1.5% in the period to 74.2%, despite substantial increases in the number of flights, rising by 51% during the summer schedule (25th March - 27th October 2001) compared to the same period in 2000. Aeroflot carried 74,354 tonnes of cargo and mail: 1.8% less than in 9mo00, with the declines coming from international routes, where the airline carried 63,732 tonnes or -5.6% less than in the first nine months of 2000. The company attributes this to the fact that some of the key international markets had experienced downturns. Domestically, however, the company carried 10,622 tonnes of cargo or 29.3% more than in January-September 2000 split 63.5% by passenger aircraft (62.2% in 9mo00) and 36.5% by cargo aircraft (37.8% in 9mo00). Aeroflot's dedicated cargo fleet of Il-76s continues to be dogged by age and the increasingly poor reliability that has brought the numbers of aircraft down from 12 at the end of 2000 to its last reported level of four at the end of July 2001. The remaining aircraft are now faced with potential exclusion from the European markets due to noise restrictions. Aeroflot currently plans to supplement its cargo fleet with four leased DC-10s replacing a DC-10 that ended its lease in August 2001.

Article ID: 2841