Vladivostok Avia is expanding through the lease of a mix of Russian and its first Western aircraft in an effort to improve the efficiency of its fleet.
The Vladivostok-based carrier, which is the largest Russian airline in the far east region, will take the first of an initial batch of two Airbus A320s on lease from International Lease Finance before the end of the year, with the second following in January. Two additional Tupolev Tu-204-300s will be delivered from the Aviastar plant via Ilyushin Finance in April and May 2008, to supplement the four introduced last year.
Vladivostok Avia deputy general director Igor Matsenko says that the A320s will gradually replace its ageing, inefficient fleet of Tupolev Tu-154B/Ms. The tri-jet "is only marginally profitable due to high fuel burn and the high fuel prices", says Matsenko.
He adds that the airline has plans to acquire more Airbus narrowbodies for its next summer season. "Initially the A320s will operate services to adjacent foreign countries and then to destinations in Russia within 3,000-4,000km [1,620-2,160nm]," says Matsenko.
"The Airbus carries the same number of passengers as the Tu-204-300, but is lighter - 73t against 107t - which should improve economics [on shorter routes]. Meanwhile, the Tu-204-300 will be primarily used to serve long-range routes, beyond the reach of the Airbuses," Matsenko says.
Escalating fuel and maintenance costs have also prompted the airline to phase out all its 48-seat Antonov An-24 turboprops. A replacement has not yet been decided upon, but in the interim, the airline will make more intensive use of its remaining Yakovlev Yak-40s.
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The airline will expand its Tu-204-300 fleet and lease A320s |
Source: Flight International
