Krasnoyarsk’s Airport rebrands as it hopes to become Russia’s key Asian hub - Russianavia.net, Focus Communication
Release Date: 2009-06-11
Moscow, 9th June 2009 (www.Russianavia.net) – Krasnoyarsk Airport, half way between Moscow and Beijing, has decided to revive its old name, Airport Emelyanovo LLC, just as Lufthansa Cargo (LC) completed relocation to their new Asian hub.
Emelyanovo Airport hopes other cargo companies, whether Russian, Asian or European, will follow LC’s steps. “We really hope other cargo companies will come here following this example. Since the airport is now certified to international standards, we can receive all types of aircraft,” Irina Lakusta, spokeswoman of Emelyanovo airport, told Russianavia.net during a phone interview on June 9th.
The first LC flight via the new route took place on 1st June from Tokyo via Emelyanovo to Frankfurt. Later, the flights to and from China will be made via Siberia, with a technical stopover in Emelyanovo. The change will bring considerable saving in the cost of cargo transport as it shortens the routing to and from the Far East.
"The new stopover in Emelyanovo shortens the flying time to the Far East by an average of about 12 minutes per flight and thus makes a valuable contribution to the further reduction of costs”, said Carsten Spohr, Chairman of the Executive Board of Lufthansa Cargo, on a company statement. As a result, thanks to the new routing Lufthansa Cargo will use around 2,000 tons of kerosene less per annum. As of August 2009, Lufthansa Cargo will use the new hub in Krasnoyarsk with 22 weekly flights to and from Europe.
Lakusta went on to explain that the airport has been revamped and brought in line with ICAO standards to be able to operate as a full-blown international cargo and passenger hub. The instrument landing system of the airport has been upgraded from CAT I to CAT II. This modernization allows the airport to be used without interruption even in bad weather.
“The creation of this hub was also meant to attract more investment for the region as a whole. And we hope it will expand our economic and social relations East and West. As a company we are definitively more interested in developing business relations with Asia, and Asian companies,” Lakusta added.
The new entity, Airport Emelyanovo LLC, fully controlled by the government of Krasnoyarsk Region has been established to replace OJSC Airport Krasnoyarsk, which inherited many debts from the bankrupt KrasAir and AirUnion. As of now, Airport Emelyanovo LLC is clear of debt.
So far this year, volume of flights at Emelyanovo has already increased 12.5% compared to the first 2 quarters of 2008, Lakusta said.
Emelyanovo Airport became a special hub zone on June 2, 2008 with the aim to boost air transport between Russia and Europe, as well as with Asian countries, thanks to its geographical position right in the middle of Russia. By 2015, total passenger flow is expected to reach 10 million, due to a considerable increase of air transport market share - from 10% for flights between Russia and Europe and up to 60% for Asian flights.
| Type: | NORMAL |
| Company: | Focus Communication |
| Country: | Russian Federation |