Airlines flew into losses – Utro.Ru

Financial Performance RF airlines continue to deteriorate. As calculated in the Air Transport Operators Association (Transport Operators Association), in the first quarter, the largest air carriers received 24 billion rubles operating loss. In January-March 2015, losses of 112 airlines from passenger services amounted to 16 billion, and for the whole year – 8.5 billion rubles

Photo: Leonid Faerberg / Global Look

International destinations bring carriers slight profit, said “Kommersant” President Vladimir Tasun Transport Operators Association. In the first quarter of this year – 1.5 billion rubles. At the same time, the losses on domestic routes reached 25.6 billion against 19 billion in January-March 2015. “Indicators look depressing”, – admitted Tasun

The main reason -. Decrease in passenger traffic. According to the Federal Air Transport Agency, for the year it fell by 1.2% – up to 92 million people and continues to decline. Operational data show that the first half of the airline lost another 8.4%, or 3.5 million passengers, and the June passenger traffic fell by 14.4% – to 1.3 million people. In the Transport Operators Association argue that the crisis is gaining momentum.

However, the airlines have continued to grow expenses. Increased costs for aircraft leasing, maintenance and repair of equipment, as well as airport services.

Head of Transport Operators Association believes that in this situation, air carriers are unlikely to fix their position on their own. According to him, due to tariff increases, or the opening of charter flights, in particular to Turkey, return the inquiry will not work. The purchasing power of Russians is at the bottom.

Therefore, in the opinion of Tasuna, the authorities should promptly make a decision on the continuation of support for the industry. This can be done through the state order for air services for socially disadvantaged groups and reducing the tax burden for companies

Recall:. In June, the Ministry of Transport suggested reset VAT to domestic passenger traffic, which the rate was reduced from July 2015 to 10% . It is estimated that this measure could bring domestic regional air travel about 20 billion rubles. However, the ministry said that the VAT zero does not guarantee lower prices for tickets and growing demand, and added that the airlines themselves have to take financial recovery measures: optimize staff and route network, to get rid of non-core assets

In the case. if the government does not want to change the economic regime for the airline, the only option to save them will be agreed by all players of the market policy to reduce excess freight capacity and increase ticket prices, experts say.