Russia's freight traffic grew 6.3 per cent to nearly 2.5 trillion tonne-kilometres in 2007 compared to a year earlier, according to First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov. He said a total of 12 billion tonnes of freight was carried in 2007, which is more than 2 per cent more than during the previous year, with commercial freight traffic reaching 2,325 billion tonne-kilometres, a 6.6-per cent increase from 2006. Commercial airfreight traffic saw the biggest rise, which exceeded 16 per … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS : Russia's freight traffic growing

From 13 May Ural Airlines is launching a new service from Ekaterinburg in Russia to Almaty, Kazakhstan. The air service will be operated twice a week on Tuesdays and Saturdays utilising a Tu-154M. … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS : Ural Air's new service to Kazakhstan

Deliveries of the first Sukhoi Superjet 100 medium-range passenger aircraft have been postponed indefinitely over test delays. The first test flight is planned for next month. Originally, the first Superjet 100 deliveries were to be made in late 2008. The Superjet 100 project is a family of medium-range passenger aircraft developed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau in cooperation with major American and European aviation corporations, including Boeing, Snecma, Thales, Messier Dowty, Liebherr … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS : Sukhoi's Superjet 100 delayed

FlyLAL Lithuanian Airlines has been invited to join SkyTeam as an associate member, the carrier announced, joining Spain's Air Europa, Panama's Copa Airlines and Kenya Airways in the alliance's associate program. Tarom of Romania and Beirut-based Middle East Airlines are also potential associate members. FlyLAL said the invitation followed a two-year negotiation and that "final criteria for admission" and a join date "will be confirmed in the short run." It currently … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS : Lithuanian to join SkyTeam as associate

Ukraine International Airlines said it will add up to 30 new aircraft in the next 6-7 years, starting with four winglet-equipped 737-800s leased from Aviation Capital Group. Two are scheduled to arrive next year, followed by another two in early 2010. "This initial order represents the start of the roll out of our fleet renewal and expansion strategy," UIA president Yuri Miroshnikov said. "In the near future we plan to operate the newest and mosttechnologically advanced fleet … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS : Ukraine Air to add 30 new aircraft

Aeroflot remains interested in acquiring a European airline such as CSA of the Czech Republic or Serbia's JAT, the Russian airline's CEO Valery Okulov said in an interview with La Tribune. Aeroflot has long been interested in making an acquisition in Europe, telling reporters last month that Aeroflot will participate in a joint bid for CSA if the carrier is privatised later this year. Meanwhile, Aeroflot Cargo is facing a major hurdle as it seeks to replace its ageing DC-10 freighters with … [Read more...] about EUROPE & CIS : Aeroflot still looking at acquisitions