NIZHEGORAD AIRLINES (NIZHEGORODSKIIE AVIALINII): Nizhni Novgorod Airport, Nizhni Novgorod, Privolzhsky Zone, 603056, Russia; Phone 7 (8312) 541 141; Fax 7 (8312) 547 122; Code NGL; Year Founded 1994. With shareholding divided between the state (38%), employees (40%), and private investors (22%), Nizhegorad is established at Nizhni Novgorod Airport in 1994 to offer regional and domestic scheduled and charter services. Commander Nikolai Moshkov oversees the flights of 29 Antonov An-2s, 5 An-24Bs, 1 An-26, 6 Tupolev Tu-134s, and 8 Tu-154A/Bs. Enplanements total 262,338.
There is no change in the fleet during 1995. Passenger boardings inch up 0.2% to 262,900 but freight traffic declines by 26% to 2.42 million FTKs.
Although flights continue 1996-1998, business suffers a downturn, due largely to the Russian currency crisis that begins in August of the latter year. By the end of this period, only nine aircraft remain operational. The company declares bankruptcy on February 21, 1999. Three days later, receivers are appointed for the concern, which begins court ordered restructuring. During the spring, two An-24Bs are leased to Royal Phnom Penh Airways Company, Ltd., which is being established by Prince Norodom Chakrapong. A complement of Russian pilots and flight engineers from the carrier are seconded to the new Cambodian carrier.
NGL continues flights with three An-24Bs, while attempting to reorganize.
Airline employment stands at 870 at the beginning of 2000. Two routes are operated, one each to Moscow and St. Petersburg, and an An-24B is chartered from Saransk State Aviation Enterprise.
On March 17, the media reports that despite government support, the airline faces total collapse. Flights continue into the spring and summer, without further headline. Russian newspapers reveal on August 22 that efforts to create a debt-restructuring package between the airline and its creditors have begun, but by August 31 there has been no final action. The company is able to conclude a restructuring agreement on September 7 and narrowly escapes closing down after an eleventh hour agreement with creditors.
On December 1, the airline’s trade union informs federal authorities in the Nizhni Novgorod region that they will be going on strike in 4 days unless their 100 pilots and mechanics are paid salary arrears and are given a 200% wage boost. A committee of management, union, and employees is formed to review employee demands.
Last minute talks between labor and management result in a temporary agreement between the parties on December 5, just minutes before the first flight of the day would have been cancelled by a job action. The carrier agrees to give its staff a 40% wage increase. Other differences concerning working conditions that have come to light will need to be talked through before the arrival of the new strike date, January 15.
On December 20, the company joins with BAL Bashkiri Airlines (Bashkirskie Avialinii Aviakompaniya), Samara Airlines (Samara Avialinii), and Saravia (Saranskiye Avialinii) to form a joint marketing agreement designed to keep open the air routes in the Volga Federal District. The plan is similar to one announced in Moscow earlier in the month by Domodedovo Airlines, Chelai-Chelyabinsk Airlines (Chelyabinsk Chief Aviation Enterprise), Kras Air (Krasnoyarsk Avialinii), and Avia Express Cruise. Details concerning possible joint schedules, tariff adjustments, and fleet combinations are not provided to the media.
NIZHIVARTOVSK UNITED AIR DETACHMENT (NIZHIVAR-TOVSKII OAO): Nizhnivartovsk Airport, Nizhnivartovsk, 626440, Russia; Phone 7 (3466) 34480; Year Founded 1994. Established at Nizhnivartovsk Airport in 1994, NUAD launches nonscheduled, often ad hoc, charter passenger and cargo flights, air taxi, air ambulance, energy and communications support, and agricultural work under the leadership of General Director Comdr. Vladimir G. Pysenok. The fleet includes an unspecified number of fixed-wing Antonov An-2 biplanes, plus a large rotary-wing fleet of Mil Mi-6s, Mil Mi -8s, and Mil Mi-26s, as well as Kaman Ka-32s.
Flights continue in 1995-2000, during which years the fleet is rationalized to include 4 An-2s, 34 Mi-8s, 4 Mi-6s, and 3 Mi-26s.
World History
