Good first half for Northern Siberian airline, but it has concerns about winter fuel supply

Published: 9/9/1999

Norilsk Airline in Northern Siberia has reported that, in the first six months of 1999 it handled 130,000 passengers, 1,826 tons of cargo, and 660 tons of mail. It has also extended its flights to different regions of Russia and CIS. In a report in Norilskaya Pravda, the airline says that ticket office queues have been eliminated over the period. It claims that it is considering the acquisition of bigger aircraft, such as the Tu-154 or Il-76, to add to its current fleet of An-2, An-12, An-26s and An-74s and mixed fleet of helicopters. The new aircraft would be financed using leases, with a subsequent buyout by Norilsk .Crews have already been training to fly the aircraft. The need to replace the aging fleet, which includes 5 An-12s, is critical for the airline as they reach the end of their operational life limits. Light aircraft, such as the An-2, are currently being reconfigured into kerosene-powered engines. According to the airline the larger aircraft will help reduce ticket prices and improve the airline's service in its region of Taymyrskiy. In common with other airlines at the moment, Norilsk is finding it hard to cope with escalating fuel prices (www.concise.org 20th August 1999). The hike in the prices of aviation fuel and lubricants has made it impossible for the company to stock up with sufficient fuel reserves. The company anticipates that it may have to call on the help of the city's administration, should the situation fail to ease at the end of the year. According to Norilsk, of the several Russian airlines that serve its airports, not all provide an acceptable level of service. Norilsk however, plans to upgrade its airport at Alykel, and to renovate part of the airport to provide service equivalent to European airports according to Norilskaya Pravda. In addition to Alykel, Norilsk Airline has five more airports in Taymyrskiy and one at Shushenskoye, 300 kms south of Krasnoyarsk.

Article ID: 845