The article 'Czech or cash' (Airline Business, November) was very interesting but some of your information about the Slovak aviation industry was not precise.
At present, all air operations based in Slovakia are wholly privately-owned companies, and Tatra air, with two Saab 340Bs, is the only one operating a scheduled service.
Besides the domestic route Bratislava-Kosice (nine flights a week), Tatra air operates services from the Slovak capital to Zurich (eight times) and Prague (seven), but has withdrawn from Warsaw.
Slovair Transport, also based in Bratislava, operates a fleet of five L410 15-17 seaters. Under contract with Slovak Post, Slovair operates night mail flights on domestic routes. Other activities include ad hoc charters, business and hospital flights.
Although operating only one Boeing 727, Air Slovakia beat all competition by carrying the most passengers on charter flights - mainly to Spain and Greece - last summer. The carrier also operates a weekly charter flight from Bratislava to Tel Aviv.
Air Transport Europe, based in Poprad in northern Slovakia, operates a 76-seat Tupolev Tu-134A on routes to former CIS countries. Other operators have only light aircraft (up to 17 seaters) for taxi or specialised aerial work.
The Slovak government has plans to establish a Slovak national carrier. Three Yak-42s and a Tu-154, acquired from Russia as part of clearing the financial balance from previous years, are expected to be used in the fleet, though full details have yet to be announced.
CSA Czech Airlines operates services from Prague to Bratislava and Kosice in east Slovakia throughout the winter. Although Poprad/Tatry Airport lost the scheduled CSA service, in January Czech regional carrier Air Ostrava was planning to start six weekly Jetstream 31 flights between Prague and both Poprad and Kosice.
Juraj Rokfalusy
Commercial manager
Poprad/Tatry Airport
Slovakia.
Source: Airline Business
