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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.
