Andrey Illarionov, Yakutsk airport - Аэропорт "Якутск"
Release Date: 2009-07-17
The Russian republic of Sakha (formerly Yakutia), located in the Far East of Russia, was in the public eye due to the changes that took place in the Yakutia’s diamond giant ALROSA. How had these changes affected the region and, in particular, the structure of the airport?Not so much. The nationalization of ALROSA meant that the airfield, including the runway, routing tracks, parking places and aprons, which used to belong to the Republic, were transferred to federal property, and that is the only difference now. As compensation, the Federal Government nationalized all airfields in Russia, which was a good thing because it is quite expensive to maintain an airfield. As a result, our airfield was transferred to the Administration of Civil Airports, and now we rent it for a small sum of money. The Ministry of Transport is responsible for reconstruction of the airfield - which is very profitable for us.
In which condition is the airport today?
The airfield and the runway are in a very good state. Reconstruction of the routing tracks is in full swing, and the apron will be reconstructed next year. As for the minor things, the passenger terminal is somewhat outdated. It was constructed in 1995 by a Canadian company. They copied a terminal from a Canadian city airport and reproduced it in Yakutia. If you have been in Yakutia, you might have seen that the terminal has no facilities for both passengers and personnel. As it used happen in Russia, they first constructed the terminal and, only once the building was finished and before it went into operation, aviation people and airport managers were invited to go and see the facilities so that they could decide where they, we, were going to allocate business and place our staff.
There’s an empty site nearby where another terminal, constructed in 1962, used to stand, but it caught fire after the new Canadian terminal appeared, and we had to demolish it. About three years ago we decided to construct a new passenger terminal and announced a tender for design and construction. A Czech company formally won the tender but the conditions that they suggested were unacceptable for the Republic, and in two years the project was cancelled.
Now the Government of the Republic has announced a new tender. The project is designed by Yakutproject JSC jointly with Lenaeroproject from St-Petersburg and the Government Customer Service, which has been engaged in construction of different sites in the Republic in the past few years. Of course, we also participate as experts. The republican-owned Republican Investment Company (RIC) will finance the new terminal. After coal mining company Yakutugol was sold to Mechel, RIC managed to reserve the necessary funds to finance the construction of the new terminal. The project is ready, and this year we have announced a tender to choose the construction company.
Because of permafrost caused by our severe cold weather, the foundations must be made of huge concrete piles, and these will start being laid at the end of the summer, next August or September. The main works are to start next year, as we have yet to find materials and equipment, bring it to Yakutsk (the capital of the Republic) and start the construction. It is quite a complicated logistical operation. When the Canadians were constructing the current terminal, even the concrete had to be imported from Turkey!
Maybe, this time you’ll find the materials closer…
Possibly, Latvia or Lithuania, or even China, although this option at present seems less likely.
So, in twelve-eighteen months the airport will look completely different… How has the airport been evolving in terms of passenger flow before and during the crisis?
Obviously, due to the crisis, this year we’ve had less passenger flow. But before that, in 2007 and 2008, there was a stable growth of 5-7% every year, not as high as other analogue regional airports of Russia, due to the fact that the local population is not that large.
Which airlines are operating here?
Yakutia Airlines, Sibir Airlines, Vladivostok Air; Ural Airlines, Polar Airlines and an airline of ALROSA. Krasair and Domodedovo airlines did operate here as well, but, they went bankrupt.
Will you engage in negotiations with foreign airlines after the construction is over?
According to an interstate agreement between Russia and China, China Southern Airlines has obtained the commercial rights for flights to Yakutsk as a state-appointed forwarder. They are to come here for negotiations and see whether the airport is apt to receive their planes.
How important is it for you to count with an international company? Are there any advantages of having international airlines operating here?
The presence of foreign airliners raises the profile of the airport to become a real international facility. The most interesting advantage for us would be refueling business for international flights on Eurasian or Polar routes.
For sure, China Southern Airlines will affirm the international position of Yakutsk airport… What about cargo flights?
We had very serious, strong international cargo transport operations in the 1990s, reaching up to 35,000 t of cargo per year; it was a very good indicator for Russia. Today, it has fallen ten-fold. We used to have many Russian cargo airlines with fleets of Il-76 cargo aircraft flying to China to bring mass consumption goods to Russia. They used to fly through Yakutsk and do double-sided cargo loading as they went to Chinese towns and back. The system of double-sided loading, with good tariffs for Moscow-Yakutsk cargo flights, was very convenient for passengers and legal entities. But after the Chinese authorities banned the landing of the Il-76 planes, the cargo airlines had to leave a great number of aircraft in the parking lot and close down the business.
A lot of Russian cargo companies - such as AirBridgeCargo and Volga-Dnepr - are based in Krasnoyarsk, another regional airport close to China. How hard is the competition for this segment?
They have newer fleets, as they bought good aircraft such as the B-747 and An-124, which are more efficient than the Il-76. Some cargo airlines, like Polet, AirBridgeCargo or Volga-Dnepr, only make occasional flights to Yakutsk as it is on the fringes of the main cargo routes. Geographically speaking, Krasnoyarsk is better located to compete for the cargo business, as it is in the middle of the Eurasian routes.
Do you think that Yakutsk airport will no longer be competitive for cargo? Is there any strategy to increase the cargo flow?
The Mayor of Sault Sainte Marie, a small town on the border of the USA and Canada, dreams that American cargo aircraft could make transit flights through Yakutia to refuel in Yakutsk on their way from Chicago and Detroit to Beijing. Today, the route to Beijing runs along the shore but planes could make cross-polar routes through Yakutsk, which would save time, fuel and, eventually, money. This would be quite profitable for the airlines as they could transport larger volumes of cargo from American cities, while consuming less fuel.
Have you started the discussion on this issue, are negotiations underway at all?
. Last year I was to go there but the Canadian embassy denied my visa, so I won’t go there any more! Eventually, the Canadian Mayor himself came to Yakutsk for talks, as part of an official exchange of Yakutian and Canadian delegations.
For how long have you been heading the airport?
For twelve years. Too much…
One day, when you finish your career, what sort of airport would you like to leave behind?
I would like to leave behind a modern airport, equal to its peers- comfortable and fully equipped for passengers. Now there’s not even a luggage claim band! We hope that the new terminal will have it all, all the necessary facilities available, including a hotel. As I explained before, the new international terminal will be made on the basis of the existing terminal.
Do you foresee opportunities for foreign companies to cooperate with Yakutsk in the development of its international airport?
Yes, I can. It’s quite possible and probable. Currently we are a State Unitary Enterprise but in nine months we will become a Joint Stock Company. Privatization is a new stage for us.
What does the upcoming privatization mean for Yakutsk airport?
It means new opportunities in many different directions. We will be more independent than we are now. As a state-owned company, we have to discuss and agree on all issues with the local Government. After the airport is privatized, the discussions will be held within the Board of Directors.
Today, most airports are experiencing hard times. But the crisis has also brought good changes for Yakutia Airlines. Krasair, Domodedovo, Interavia and Sibaviatrans went bankrupt, and Yakutia Airlines took over four B-757-200 that now make flights from Moscow to Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Magadan, Bratsk, Irkutsk, and Yakutsk. Before, they didn’t have the licenses to operate those routes and, as a result of taking over everybody else’s routes, Yakutia Airlines’ cash flow and volume of activities have grown very much, to the point where they don’t have enough pilots and crews! But the overall situation is still hard for us as an airport.
What would be your final word to the readers of www.RussianAvia.net?
. I wish everyone to get over the crisis quickly!
| Company: | Yakutsk airport - Аэропорт "Якутск" |
| Position: | General Director |
| Country: | Russian Federation |