Domodedovo Airlines plans to resume scheduled flights in early February after being promised cash owed by the Russian Government.
Domodedovo, based at the Moscow airport of the same name, had its accounts frozen and had to cease flights last month after it defaulted on debts and could no longer afford fuel. The airline is itself owed 200 million roubles ($7 million) by government clients, however, including the defence ministry and Federal Border Service, which use it to fly to Russia's Far East.
The former has promised to repay 50 million roubles immediately, against which the airline is buying 250t of fuel to fulfil remaining commitments to the military, plus 500t more to resume scheduled services from 4 February.
Domodedovo general director Alexander Akimov says it is still owed 470 million roubles for 1997-9, yet had to pay more than 100 million roubles in taxes last year. Suggestions in Russia that Moscow would like to see the airline fail and sell its assets are dismissed by Federal Service for Air Transport chief Vladimir Andreyev.
The carrier operates three Ilyushin Il-96-300s, 12 Il-62s and four Il-76s, to 10 destinations in the Far East and Central Asia, along with international charters.
Source: Flight International
