Russian independent airline Transaero has struck a code-share agreement with Continental Airlines and is linking with Air Kazakhstan, Ural Airlines and KrasAir to build a joint network.
Alexander Pleshakov, general director of Transaero, says the deal with Continental envisages sharing routes and ticket sales on jointly agreed tariffs. Under the agreement, Russian and Kazakh airlines can tap into Continental's market, offering joint flights to 26 cities in the USA via London and Frankfurt. In return Continental passengers will get better access to the Russian and CIS destinations through the Russian airlines.
Pleshakov is cautious about describing the partnership with the other CIS airlines as an alliance, but says he hopes that it "will offer new opportunities to those [airlines] involved."
Ten-year-old Transaero enjoyed steady growth until Russia's 1998 financial crisis forced it to downsize. Pleshakov stresses that expansion is back on the agenda. The airline operates seven Boeing 737s and an Ilyushin Il-86, and has a deal to lease 10 Tupolev Tu-204s. Pleshakov has called for the Russian carriers to pool together to purchase the Russian twinjet.
Source: Flight International
