February 2, 2004

Siberia Airlines has drawn the preliminary results of its operation in 2003. Over the past year, Siberia Airlines continued to develop its route network from Novosibirsk and operations facilities at Tolmachevo airport. This allowed the company to attract considerable investment into the airport operations infrastructure development.

Among the main achievements are:

1. Five regular domestic and international flights from Novosibirsk launched;
2. Passenger turnover increased by 18%;
3. Cargo and mail traffic increased by 11%;
4. A service station for European aircraft established and regular maintenance of the Airbus family aircraft started;
5. The scope of aircraft maintenance work at Siberia Airlines service facilities in Tolmachevo increased by 40%;
6. A refueling station construction project started in compliance with international safety and environmental standards;
7. Cargo dispatch in Tolmachevo airport arranged without applying for outside assistance.

In 2003, Siberia Airlines operated 2,915 flights from Tolmachevo airport with the total of 368 000 passengers (18% more than in 2002) and 2,916 tons of cargo (up 11%).
According to Tolmachevo airport officials, the total number of passengers flown from the airport last year was 637 000 (up 13%). So, the share of Siberia Airlines in passenger traffic from its base airport was 58% (compared to 55% in 2002). The increase in passenger traffic became possible after the introduction by the Airlines in 2003 of new regular flights from Novosibirsk to Surgut, Rostov-on-Don, Mineralnye Vody, Ulan-Ude and Bangkok (Thailand), increasing the number of flights to Moscow, St. Petersburg, Vladivostok, Yakutsk, Yerevan and other cities, and increases in transfer traffic via Tolmachevo and seat occupancy.
In 2003, Siberia Airlines operated 28 regular and 18 charter flights to 18 countries from Tolmachevo airport. Regular flights of the Airlines connected Novosibirsk to 18 Russian and 10 foreign cities. The flight frequency during the summer time was up to 80 flights per week. In addition, many residents of Novosibirsk and other cities took transfer flights of Siberia Airlines via Moscow. This links Novosibirsk to 10 more locations in Russia and abroad.
The increase in passenger turnover of Siberia Airlines via Tolmachevo took place despite unplanned cancellation of flights to Tel-Aviv because of the war in Iraq, and to Beijing and Urumchi for SARS reasons.
Transfer flows of Siberia Airlines via Tolmachevo make up only about 9% of the whole passenger turnover through Novosibirsk. During the summer season the company sometimes had problems providing accommodation at the airport hotel to the passengers waiting for connection flights.
«Starting from 2000, Siberia Airlines increased its traffic via Tolmachevo by 80%, Alexander Vindermut, First Director General's Operation Deputy, notes. Last year, the volume of technical operations at the aircraft maintenance base of the Airlines in Tolmachevo increased by 41%. Now all periodic maintenance checks for the Airlines aircraft are done in Novosibirsk. In April 2003, we started maintenance service for European aircraft A320. This has a positive influence both on the image of Siberia Airlines and the airport.
The Airlines continues its development programs in Tolmachevo. Last year, it started work on its own refueling complex which would conform to the latest safety and environmental standards. Several construction projects for new facilities on its own and leased land are under development. One of these projects involves building of aircraft parking stands. All this is aimed at ensuring the stability of the Airlines and expanding its current ground-based infrastructure.»
Siberia Airlines plans to further increase the number of flights from Novosibirsk and expand their geography, to introduce new technologies and improve passenger service on the ground and in the air.
In 2004, the Siberia Airlines plans to launch a number of regular flights from Novosibirsk. Among them will be flights to Bishkek, Blagoveshensk, Dushanbe, Munich, and Tyanzin. There will be regular flights to Antalia and Simferopol. The company also plans to make the flight Novosibirsk-Bangkok a year-round one.
Within the year 2003, Siberia Airlines carried 3.4 mln. passengers, which is 26% more than the previous year. According to the data provided by the Transport Clearing Organization, Siberia Airlines was ranked first among Russian airlines in passenger traffic on domestic flights and second on international flights.

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