Small airport seeks new customers as regional air company ceases to provide traffic

Published: 8/25/1999

According to local newspaper report, the management of the small Yakutsk regional airport at Ust-Nera is going it alone in a rescue mission, given the low level of traffic from its parent company, Sakhaavia. Over the summer period, the airport has signed contracts with three small airlines: Sir-Aero, Sakha Center of Aviation Personnel Training (STsPAP), and Barguzin (jointly with Aeroportservice). There are now three flights a week and, in July 12 flights were made instead of the scheduled eight. Ten are planned for August. While the ongoing difficulties of its parent have not so far deterred the management of Ust-Nera, it is still being compelled to undertake some radical restructuring of the workforce, reducing it from 144 personnel to 40-45 employees. Some of the back pay owed to sacked employees has recently been paid. The newspaper reports suggest that it is likely that the poor financial condition of Sahaavia will lead to the airport being taken under state control.

Article ID: 789