Travellers taking trains instead, but high oil prices also blamed for fall in bookings
Aeroflot has registered a 3% reduction in ticket sales on scheduled services to the USA and Europe since two suicide bombers sabotaged a Volga-AviaExpress Tupolev Tu-134A-3 and Sibir Tu-154B-2 on 24 August, killing 90 passengers and crew. Meanwhile, airport security has been ratcheted upward.
Aeroflot general director Valery Okulov says the bulk of the drop is in US and European citizens' bookings, while the number of Russians travelling is unaffected. Sibir itself suffered a 15% drop in ticket sales on 2 September compared with 24 August. Most of this came from travellers switching to train services for distances of less than 1,500km (930 miles). But by mid-September sales had returned to within 4-5% of the 24 August level, according to the airline, although they were still 10-15% up the same days last year. Before the flights were sabotaged, traffic was 20-25% up on the previous year.
Other Russian airlines report either stable ticket sales or a small drop. Russian tourist agencies say that the continuing increase in jet fuel prices remains the biggest factor holding back growth. Meanwhile, Russian airports have moved to a higher level of alert. Most have introduced X-ray checks on entry to airport buildings.
Extra measures include dividing passengers undergoing checks into small groups with inspection in a "closed doors" environment. "But the best means to discover explosives like hexogen are sniffer dogs," says Domodedovo airport director Sergei Rudakov. He says he is benefiting from consultation with El Al, the Israeli carrier, which is moving its flights from Moscow Sheremeteyevo to Domodedovo.
VLADIMIR KARNOZOV / MOSCOW
Source: Flight International
