MAT Macedonian Airlines is eyeing fleet expansion this year, as it continues to implement its recovery plan.
According to MAT managing director Dusko Gruevski, the Macedonian conflict in 2001 forced MAT to "pull a lot of money from shareholders", and it has since been implementing a "cautious" recovery plan. By cutting costs it achieved an operating profit of $2 million last year, although it recorded a net loss overall.
After a troubled 2001, the airline's traffic rose by 40% last year to around 177,000 passengers. Gruevski says the airline will lease a third Boeing 737 for this summer, and possibly a Fokker 100 later. Gruevski says MAT's long-term goal is to take 50% of Macedonia's annual traffic, which he estimates could be 700,000 passengers.
Meanwhile, Gruevski says he is not prepared to discuss an issue of the airline's flag carrier status, which was raised last December by the head of the Macedonian civil aviation authority over its level of foreign ownership, until he has seen an official proposal from the authority. "Above all, it is the state, not MAT, that is not fulfilling its part of the agreement," he adds.
Source: Flight International
