Aeroflot-Russian Airlines has reported increases in traffic, revenue and profits for last year as it continues to pull out of the decline of the early years of the post-Soviet era.
Passenger numbers in 2000 topped 5.1 million, a 10.7% increase on the 4.6 million carried in 1999. The amount of freight and post carried came to 107,400t, a 20% increase on the previous year.
Operating revenues rose to 36.3 billion ($1.25 billion) roubles, up 29.8%. Net profit before taxes came to 2.7 billion roubles compared to 111 million roubles in 1999 - both the figures used Russian accounting standards, which are different from those used in the West.
By the end of the year, the airline had trimmed five aircraft from its fleet, which now stands at 111 aircraft.
The reductions comprised two Ilyushin Il-62s, two Tupolev Tu-134s and two Tu-154s, and a single Il-76, while two Boeing 767-300ERs were added.
The airline's only foreign director, US citizen David Hearne, has resigned from the board after only 12 months. Pressure from other commitments has been given as the principal reason.
Source: Flight International
