Paul Duffy/MOSCOW
Sibir, Russia's fastest-growing airline, is expanding again through the effective takeover of more Siberian carriers. It aims to formalise an alliance with a major European airline by the middle of this year.
Vladislav Filiov, Sibir's general director, is continuing his strategy of linking airlines into a partnership under the Sibir name, usually in return for taking on their debts.
Novokuznetsk's local carrier joined the group in December, with Siani, a joint venture between Chita Avia and Baikal, being taken over last month, adding the cities of Chita, Irkutsk and Bratsk. Earlier deals mean Sibir already operates from Barnaul, Tomsk and Kemerovo, as well as from its Novosibirsk base, serving more than 30 destinations.
A hub is also being established at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport (where Sibir once contemplated a deal with the carrier of the same name), while an alliance with a major foreign carrier is its next target, due to be announced during the second quarter. Sibir's strongest international links are to Germany, where it serves Frankfurt and Düsseldorf. It also flies to China and the UAE.
The airline has begun fleet modernisation with a 200-seat Tupolev Tu-204, and has agreed to acquire three higher weight Tu-214s, certificated last month, from Kazan Aircraft Production. New cabins are being installed in its Tu-154s (it will have 19 after the takeovers) and Ilyushin Il-86 widebodies, while a smaller Tupolev Tu-134 has been leased for thinner routes.
Sibir was Russia's fourth-largest carrier in terms of passengers last year, increasing by 20%, and is targeting second spot behind Aeroflot. Revenues increased by 4% in dollar terms, to $106 million, and the carrier was profitable.
The carrier already sells tickets online.
Source: Flight International
