Published: 8/21/1998

At a press-briefing devoted to the operational results of Vnukovo Airlines in the first half of this year, Tatevos Surinov, executive general director, said that despite the economic situation in the country, the operator managed to increase its traffic figures. The rise over the same period of the past year was 12-20%. The total flight time in the first six months was 18,725 hours (1997) and 22,758 hours (1998). The number of passengers carried increased from 709,897 to 790,676. On the negative side, the seat-load factor dropped by 7.3%: as of June, it averaged at 57-58%. Surinov said that the airline has achieved certain success on the ways of more effective usage of the Il-86 and Yak-42. At the same time, the respective figures for the Tu-154M were worse than in 1997. In June, the readiness of the fleet was 62% (out of 56 airplanes in the inventory only 35 were operable). In fact it is slightly better, because the airline still has on the list several old Tu-154Bs and Il-86s, which are being written off due to their age. Meantime, all airframes remaining in service have been equipped with KLM-90 systems for more precise flight operations. Vnukovo Airlines finds the first results of using its 'flexible fleet management' system very encouraging. The system is meant to provide better use of the existing fleet, when a particular type of aircraft is chosen for a certain flight. Vnukovo has four types to choose from, the Yak-42, Tu-154M, Tu-204 and Il-86, with 120, 160, 210 and 304 seats, respectively. After the ticket sales are closed, the flight manager chooses the best fit, in an effort to provide biggest seat-loading factor possible. In the given conditions of excessive fleet, this practice allows the airline to save on operational expenses, Surinov claimed. Touching on the problems the airline has recently hadpaying salaries to employees, Surinov said that at the beginning of July the payments were one month behind schedule, but in August all overdue salaries will finally be paid off. The crisis was caused by non-payments to the airline. He said that the Defence Ministry owes Vnukovo Airlines Rbs88m and the Federal Security Service Rbs20m. In total, state bodies owe the operator Rbs285m.(AL898.3) (VK)

Article ID: 251