Aeroflot Group clarifies new Rossiya plans

The Aeroflot Group has further clarified its plans for a consolidated regional carrier encompassing Rossiya (FV, St. Petersburg), Donavia (D9, Rostov), and Orenair (R2, Orenburg) and based on the Rossiya brand, the largest of the three.

Announcing a net profit of RUB1.83 billion (USD27.7 million) for the nine-month period through to September 30, the Russian group said the 'new Rossiya' would operate domestic Russian and some international routes using hubs in St. Petersburg and Moscow Vnukovo. Additional bases will be established around the country. It will also focus on the medium-price segment.

While the three carriers currently serve a total of ninety destinations - forty-eight domestic and forty-two international - new Rossiya will also add some destinations formerly allocated to Transaero Airlines (UN, Moscow Vnukovo) prior to its collapse in October. It is to be recalled that Russia's Federal Air Transport Agency (Rosaviatsia) awarded Aeroflot fifty-six out of Transaero's 156 international routes, including those to new markets such as Kazakhstan as well as increased frequencies to congested European and Asian airports.

Concerning fleet plans, new Rossiya will indeed lease some ex-Transaero aircraft although this has now been clarified as twenty-four widebodies including five B777s, five B767s, and fourteen B747-400s. The leases are, however, still subject to confirmation.

As previously reported, the Aeroflot Group is already on track to lease ten ex-Transaero B737-800s and four B747-400s from Sberbank while talks with other lessors concerning twenty more aircraft are said to be ongoing.