Russian cargo airline shows strong volume increases

Published: 2/1/2000

Over the first ten months of 1999, leading Russian cargo airline, Atlant-Soyuz, increased its traffic to 28,000 tons: an increase of 86.7% compared to the corresponding period in1998. In contrast to some of its competitors, according to figures from the Russian Air Transport Operator Association (RATOA), Atlant-Soyuz" international traffic was up 98.5%, to 27,200 tons, while domestic traffic fell by 38.5 %, to 800 tons. The airline also carried 96,300 revenue passengers: an increase of 89,100 over 1998 results. Domestic passenger traffic dropped by 86 % to 1,000 passengers. Atlant-Soyuz was founded in June 1993 and specialises in cargo (80% of all traffic), but has a small scheduled and charter passenger operation. It leases more than 38 aircraft, including the Il-76, Il-86, Il-62, Tu 154, Tu-134, Yak-42D and An-12 and operates flights from Sheremetyevo, Vnukovo and Chkalvosky airport to 55 domestic and international destinations. The airline holds traffic rights to operate charter flights to Europe, Asia, Africa, CIS, USA and Canada. In 1998, the Moscow Government purchased 25% +1 of Atlant-Soyuz shares, worth 15m rubles. Transportation business from the government allows the airline to use the Moscow city logo. According to Price Waterhouse, the current value of Atlant-Soyuz assets is estimated to be some $90m.

Article ID: 1378