Latest phase of airport reconstruction on schedule, but KMV may lose out given temporary relocation costs (170 words)

Published: 10/1/2001

According to Anatoly Sokolov, Deputy Head of Maintenance at Mineralny Vody-based KMV, the latest phase of the reconstruction of the Mineralny Vody airport will be completed as planned on 9th October. Currently all the KMV's flights are operated from Stavropol, which has also been repaired during the last two months at a cost of Rb7.7m ($260,000). The runway at Mineralny Vody has been extensively repaired over the last two to three years, without being closed to traffic, bar the last couple of weeks when the airline's ground equipment, maintenance personnel and flight staff were temporarily relocated to Stavropol. According to the local press, however, the runway's reconstruction may lead to the airline sustaining losses. Stavropol Pravda quoted Vasily Babaskin, General Director of KMV, as saying that the closure of the airport and the temporary relocation could cost the airline about Rb3.5m ($120,000) a day.

Article ID: 2788