Fuel shortages are causing problems for airlines operating in Russia's Far East

Published: 8/20/1999

Fuel shortages in the Far East of Russia are causing serious problems for Krasair and Domodedovo Airlines. According to Vladivostok Avia, Deputy Director General, Igor Bagelfer, which has been supplying both operators, they will be obliged to refuel at stops en route, or face being grounded in Vladivostok due to lack of fuel at the airport. The shortage emerged several days ago and is also causing problems at the neighbouring airports of Magadan, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, resulting in flight cancellations and delays. Magadan is reported to be pumping fuel directly from the ships delivering the fuel to the awaiting aircraft and even then passengers are being delayed. Reportedly Liberal Democrat leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky had to spend 4 hours waiting for an aircraft at the airport. So far, Khabaravosk airport, the biggest in the region, has not been affected. Vladivostok Avia however, in spite of a timely fuel delivery in July from the Angarsk refinery, the biggest supplier in the region, is eating into its reserves and it, too, is faced with an imminent shortage. The shortages reflect both the pressure being applied by Russian oil companies for pre-payment in cash for fuel deliveries, and the enormous increase in the price of aviation fuel (www.concise.org, July 13th 1999) with prices moving since December from a low of $71 per tonne to $135 at the end of June in Moscow. Tolmachevo airport was one the first reported casualties of the squeeze. At the end of July, it was further reported that the Minsk-Grodno-Brest-Simferopol flight, scheduled to start on July 31st, had to be abandoned by operator, Techaviaexport, owing to lack of fuel.

Article ID: 767