Lack of safety and viability has prompted this move by the FSVT

Published: 5/17/2000

The FSVT has said that Russian airlines must write off 494 aircraft during 2000 as they have reached the end of their safe lives. The aircraft include 145 long-range and medium-range aircraft like Il-62, Tu-154, Tu-134, An-24, and Yak-40, 39 undisclosed cargo aircraft and 310 short-range aircraft such as the An-2. For some of Russia's smaller operators, this may be the beginning of the end, as they struggle to survive and are unable to find the funds for life extensions or new aircraft. The fact that well over 200 airlines continue to exist at all is something of a miracle in the first place. Particularly as the FSVT has targeted the smaller operators with the intention of removing licences from those that it regards as unviable or 'fair weather operators' and closing down those 70 or so airlines who were operating only one aircraft at the beginning of 2000. According to official records, the airlines were reported to be operating 7500 aircraft at the end of 1999. It seems, however, that the operational figure is substantially below that level. In Siberia alone, reports from regional governments have suggested that the operational fleets of the airlines may be as low as 15% of their aircraft. Many of the aircraft that are also being lost, such as the Il-62, have now become unviable due to their serious lack of fuel efficiency, which has resulted in operators ceasing to operate them because it is impossible to do profitably. The loss of 494 aircraft should therefore be seen in this context but without masking the serious replacement and overhaul requirements of the industry, which with funding could give opportunities for Russia's struggling producers.

Article ID: 1781