Aeroflot Plan to Establish a Charter Company

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   Aeroflot, the leading Russian airline plans to establish its own charter company by the end of 2006. According Irinia Dannenburg, Head of Press Service for the national airline, the new charter fleet will consist of long haul Il-86 aircraft. At the moment Aeroflot owns six aircraft of this type.
   ‘It is difficult to fill such planes in winter unless they fly during the New Year period. Even if an airline company reduces costs effectively, fuel costs will always remain’ explained Margarita Davlikova, General Director Deputy of Inna Tour.
   In addition to Aeroflot's new charter services, next year other airlines already specialized in charter flights such as KrasAir, Transaero, Sibir, Atlant-Soyuz, will supplement their ageing fleets with more popular foreign-manufactured aircraft.
   Nadejda Savina, Commercial Director of Continental airlines points out the following moment: ‘the cost of tour packages is constantly increasing - due to the increase in price of flights and accommodation. Therefore, with existing charter companies trying to expand, and Aeroflot's entry into the market the best case scenario is that traffic will remain at the same level - which may mean an over-supply of charter capacity’.
   On the other hand, Aeroflot daughter company may have a range of advantages: ‘as a rule the demand is stable and high for all Aeroflot services. Aeroflot is some sort of symbol and quality guarantee’ stated Tatiana Sergeeva, General Director Deputy of CAPITAL TOUR. ‘Besides, there are not enough charters flying from Sheremetevo Airport, and that will play into the hands of the new Aeroflot charter company’, added Savina.