Chelyabinsk reopens international terminal and has passenger volume up by 3.3% in H1 1999

Published: 9/20/1999

Chelyabinsk Airlines has reported that, in the first six months of 1999, passenger traffic increased by 3.3%, to 119,670, compared to the first half of 1998. Over the same period, mail traffic decreased by 5%, to 122 tons, compared to the corresponding period in 1998, while cargo traffic dropped by 50% to 476 tons. Passenger traffic on international flights showed an 8% decline - to 14,801 - despite an 80% load factor on flights to Hannover and Frankfurt Am Main. According to Yelena Prokhorova, Commercial Director, air tickets on Chelyabinsk Airlines increased by 29% over the period, compared to 38% in Russia as a whole. She added that the company plans to achieve a 10% increase in the passenger traffic by the end of the year. According to the airline, its regular flights to Germany are boosting profitability. On September 10th 1999, Chelyabinsk Airport opened its refurbished international terminal, following the completion of a four-year project. Chelyabinsk Airlines is confident that the Rb50m reconstruction costs will be paid back before long, given predictions of international traffic growth. At a press conference to mark the opening ceremony, Director General, Eduard Bobkovsky, said that the new airport runway is 3m wider and 200m longer, so enabling it to accommodate a wide range of aircraft types. The runway will begin operation in late October 1999.

Article ID: 877