newstodate.aero
Jun 12, 2007 (newstodate): Russia's limited aircraft production capacity constitutes a bottle-neck for the country's airlines.
The demand for air transportation in Russia keeps soaring, but the Russian airlines have difficulties in meeting this challenge due to shortage of aircraft.
One venue of increasing aircraft fleets is imports of Western-type aircraft, but customs and taxes remain prohibitive.
Russia's own aircraft industry is still too weak to fill the gap.
One example is the carrier Transaero that has a contract with its leasing company to add up to 10 TU-214 aircraft before the end of this year.
So far only one has been delivered, and a second unit will be ready for delivery shortly as well.
But the fate and delivery scheme of the remaining eight units still remains unsettled, sources say.
This provides ample opportunities for foreign airlines operating in Russia. Industry sources expect this traffic to double in the coming years.
The demand for air transportation in Russia keeps soaring, but the Russian airlines have difficulties in meeting this challenge due to shortage of aircraft.
One venue of increasing aircraft fleets is imports of Western-type aircraft, but customs and taxes remain prohibitive.
Russia's own aircraft industry is still too weak to fill the gap.
One example is the carrier Transaero that has a contract with its leasing company to add up to 10 TU-214 aircraft before the end of this year.
So far only one has been delivered, and a second unit will be ready for delivery shortly as well.
But the fate and delivery scheme of the remaining eight units still remains unsettled, sources say.
This provides ample opportunities for foreign airlines operating in Russia. Industry sources expect this traffic to double in the coming years.