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Vladivostok Air summarizes its performance in the view of the 15th Anniversary of initial public offering.
On January 20, 2009 the airline will celebrate the 15th Anniversary of Vladivostok flight reorganization into open joint stock company Vladivostok Air. For the short period of time the airline has made a huge step forward to develop from a regional carrier into the largest company in the Far East and East Siberia, replenished the air fleet with modern long and midhauls and launched dozens of new domestic and international flights to transport hundred thousands of passengers annually. The air fleet has been renewed completely, transportation volume has increased five times. Currently Vladivostok Air is rightfully considered one of the ten best Russian airlines with regard to passenger turnover, the main performance indicator in the industry.
The last year was rather tough for Russian Aviation business. Sharp increase in fuel and oil prices affected the industry resulting in growing air transport tariffs, airline bankruptcy and passenger outflow. In autumn and winter 2008 the airline had to rearrange its routes, extend some of the flight intervals and refuse from certain directions due to their running at a loss. Thus, Vladivostok — Komsomolsk-on-the-Amur — Moscow line is suspended for the period from December 1, 2008 to March 28, 2009; Moscow — Frankfurt-Hahn line is suspended from January 16 to March 28; Seoul — Bangkok flights will be suspended from February 18 on. Khabarovsk bounded flight have been optimized. This route used to be serviced daily by Yak-40, now passengers from Vladivostok and Khabarovsk can use transit flights Vladivostok — Khabarovsk — Krasnoyarsk, Vladivostok — Khabarovsk — Irkutsk and Vladivostok — Khabarovsk — Magadan performed by comfortable Tu-204-300 and A-320.
In spite of the negative trends presently observed in the industry Vladivostok Air managed to improve its performances. In 2008 basic production factors of the airline demonstrated growth and positive dynamics as against 2007 figures. For instance, increase in the number of passengers transported by the airline own aircrafts reached 15.1%. For the 12 months 2008 the total number of passengers 892,798. Operating passenger turnover grew by 20.3% and up to 2 bln 943.80 thousand passenger/kilometers. The quantity of cargo transported increased by 21.8%, up to 8,236 tons. The airline improved its performances in operating ton/kilometers by 20.7% as compared to the last year to reach the level of 297 mln 365 thousand ton/kilometers. Generally, the economic factor growth resulted in revenues increase by 38.3%.
In 2008, along with the own route network development, Vladivostok Air undertook DalAir flights du e to the suspension of the latter. Vladivostok Air fulfilled the assignment of Russian Federation Ministry of Transport to protect interests of those passengers who made transportation contracts with the Khabarovsk carrier. In order to cope with the task Vladivostok Air had to optimize its own route network and rearrange the winter schedule considering the specific features of flights from Khabarovsk. 4 international and 7 domestic flights from Khabarovsk have been assimilated since November 2008. Presently the airline offers regular flights to Seoul, Niigata, Harbin, Beijing, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Magadan, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk, Ekaterinburg, Krasnodar and Saint-Petersburg.
Generally, 2008 became a milestone for Vladivostok Air. One of the most significant achievements of the year is successful accreditation for compliance with IOSA requirements (IATA Operational Safety Audit).
Air fleet renewal is still the top priority task for Vladivostok Air. With each year the airline acquires modern foreign and home made liners to successfully operate them on various routes. In 2008 the airline received three A-320 and two Tu-204-300, so the total number of the new liners in Vladivostok Air fleet is four and six respectively. In 2009 one more A-320 is expected as well as a long haul wide-bodied A-330 with 327 passengers layout. The new aircraft will be mainly used for long distance flights like Vladivostok — Moscow — Vladivostok.
In store for the airline are many plans, new achievements and, what is most important, much interesting and hard work for the benefit of passengers.
Reference: Vladivostok Air is the largest air carrier in the Russian Far East with the air fleet including Tu-204-300, Airbus А-320, Tu-154М, Yak-40, Mi-8 and Ка-32. From 2004 the airline is a full member of International Air Transport Association (IATA). Please, visit the airline website at www.vladivostokavia.ru.
PR Department
OJSC Vladivostok Air
oso@vladavia.ru
