VLADIVOSTOK AIR: Portovaya Str 41 Airport, Primorski Krai, 692811, Russia; Phone 7 (42332) 28240; Fax 7 (42332) 28010; Http://www. vladavia. ru; Code XF; Year Founded 1992. Following the demise of Aeroflot Soviet Airlines in 1992, its Vladivostok directorate is reformed into Vladivostok United Air Detachment (Vladivos-tokski OAO), an affiliate of the new Aeroflot Russian International Airlines (ARIA) . This unit is reformed in 1993, becoming a joint stock company under its present name. Shareholding is divided between the government (51%) and the new airline’s employees (49%).
Vladimir Saibel is director general and his fleet comprises an unspecified number of Antonov An-2s and An-28s, Yakovlev Yak-42s, plus three Ilyushin Il-76Ts. These aircraft continue to offer scheduled domestic flights, as well as international return services to points in China, Japan, and Korea. The carrier also operates a large rotary-wing fleet in support of energy and communications activities, including Mil Mi-2s and Mi-8s, plus Kamov Ka-26s and Ka-32s.
Operations continue in 1994 as the Antonovs are replaced with one Tupolev Tu-54M and two Tu-154Bs, which begin to serve trunk routes. Customer bookings total 102,109.
The carrier’s 24 aircraft transport a total of 100,700 in 1995, a 1.4% dip. Cargo is also down, dropping 9.1% to 3.81 million FTKs.
Flights continue in 1996-1997, although traffic figures are not available.
Destinations visited from Vladivostok in 1998 include Moscow, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Yekutsk, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Zonalnoe, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Khaborovsk, Harbin, P’yongyang, Seoul, Pusan, and Tokyo.
In August as economic problems persist, the Russian government devalues the ruble. The official exchange rate is initially pegged at 6 rubles to the dollar, but soon plunges. By mid-September, currency trades at 16 to 1.
This carrier, like others across Siberia, is able to resist the temptation to sharply increase some economy-class fares on its busy domestic routes.
Late in the year, the company opens a site on the World Wide Web.
Flights continue in 1999. At the beginning of March, North Korea and Russia extend their civil aviation agreement. On March 4, the carrier inaugurates a new international Air Terminal at Vladivostok Airport. Under the pact just signed with North Korea, Vladivostok Air begins one additional weekly Tu-134A return service between its namesake city and P’yongyang on March 30.
Weekly Tu-154M roundtrips commence on July 1 from Vladivostok to Osaka, Japan.
Cross subsidization allows the carrier, beginning on September 3, to restart a number of regional routes earlier abandoned due to the Russian fiscal crisis. During the year and even though Russia and Taiwan do not enjoy diplomatic relations, a bilateral air accord is concluded under which Vladivostok Air and Trans Asia Airways Company, Ltd. are to inaugurate twice weekly roundtrips between Taipei and Vladivostok.
Although the services are initially planned for May 2000, they will not, in fact begin until April 30, 2001.
In cooperation with BAL Bashkiri Airlines (Bashkirskie Avialinii Aviakompaniya), a new joint air service is, however, opened in the Russian Far East on October 26.
World History
