Passenger numbers are up, but recent flight cuts will reduce growth and cargo orders are falling (421 words)

Published: 11/19/2001

Aeroflot has reported that in January - October 2001 it carried 5.086 m passengers: an increase of 17.7% compared to the first ten months of 2000. The increase is in line with the first nine months of 2001, which recorded an increase of 18.7% year-on-year, reflecting the airline's increase in the number of flight: up 19% in the winter schedule 2000/2001 (29th October 2000- 24th March 2001) at 535 flights a week. Flights in the summer schedule also increased substantially, to 680 a week: an increase of 51% over the 2000 summer timetable. However, the recent cuts in the winter schedule should bring down the growth for the full year, with some commentators only expecting a modest improvement on 2000's 5.1 m passengers, given Aeroflot's own downgrade of estimates for passenger numbers by 100,000 for 2001. In October, Aeroflot reported that it carried 461,500 passengers, but was reluctant to reveal load factors, suggesting that the figures either showed no improvement on last year or had fallen. The company carried 84,000 tonnes of cargo and mail in the first ten months of 2001. Mail and express deliveries were up 61.4%, although 4.9% less cargo was carried than a year ago. The company attributed the decline to the economic downturn in a number of countries. In October 2001, Aeroflot carried 9,600 tonnes of cargo and mail. Mail and express deliveries increased 75.7% while cargo decreased 16.5%. This was also the case in September. Due to the lower level of orders for cargo transportation, Aeroflot's cargo aircraft spent 17.7% fewer hours in the air in the first 10 months of 2001, compared to the same period in 2000. In October, cargo aircraft spent 49.4% fewer hours in the air. Lev Koshlyakov, from Aeroflot, confirmed the carrier's involvement in the new Irish start-up, SkyNet, with plans to carry passengers from Moscow to Shannon and then onto to other European destinations on SkyNet aircraft (and presumably onward from other Aeroflot destinations in Europe). There are plans for two leased Boeing 737s by April next year and for 20 by 2005. Koshlyakov said that the choice of the Irish connection reflected a long relationship with Shannon Airport, the flexibility of flights for an EU registered carrier and a favourable tax regime. Aeroflot may not initially have a stake in the venture, but Koshlyakov said that SkyNet would organise its routes to suit those of Aeroflot.

Article ID: 2915