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Airline News Austrian Airlines announces 2nd Daily Moscow Flight Austrian Airlines continues to build on it's leading role in offering convenient connections into Eastern Europe. Starting on June 6th, Austrian will start to operate a second daily flight from Vienna to Moscow. Adding to the morning OS601 flight that departs at 10:15 Austrian now offer an evening departure leaving Vienna at 19:40 and arriving in Moscow at 00:20. The new Moscow to Vienna flight departs the Russian capital at 06:55 arriving in Vienna at 07:50 allowing same day connections to most of Austrian Airlines International long-haul flights. Austrian Airlines was one of the first Western airlines authorised to make regular flights to Moscow and has been flying uninterrupted for 42 years, since 1959. In addition to Moscow, the Austrian Airlines Group also offers flights to St. Petersburg and Anapa. Austria is also the leads in flights to Ukraine with direct flights to Kiev, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa and Kharkov. Sibir Airlines in the news Siberia's airline, Sibir has been in the news regularly over the last weeks. First it was announced that Russia's largest domestic airline, Vnukovo had approved plans to merge with Sibir which would create Russia's second largest airline. The merged carriers would fly under the name Sibir with a combined fleet of 70 aircraft. Many additional advantages would be enjoyed by the merger including the use of Vnukovo's slots from Moscow. The merged airline will remain to be based in Novosibirsk, Sibir's home since it was founded in 1994. Last year Sibir and Vnukova airlines combined carried in excess of 1.7 million passengers. Sibir's current International destinations include Munich, Frankfurt, Hanover, Beijing and Seoul. Sibir again made the news with ambitious plans to obtain permission to make direct flights to London. To initiate flights to London a new inter-Governmental agreements would be required between Britain and Russia. Under the current agreement there are only three designated carriers, British Airways, Aeroflot and Transaero. Mr. Vladislav Filyov used the occasion of the visit from the British Ambassador, Sir Roderic Lyne, to announce his plans. The Ambassador was visiting Sibir's headquarters with a representative from Rolls Royce who is interested in convincing Sibir to replace Russian made PS-90A engines with Rolls Royce RB211 engines. Plane Manufacturers to be consolidated A plan, adopted by the Russian Government has set a 3-year deadline for consolidation and re-organisation in the Russian aero industry. Deputy Prime Minister, Ilya Klebanov told reporters that Russia has to consolidate its hundreds of aviation companies into seven to compete with International competition. It is estimated that there are more than 300 Russian aviation companies including many famous names including Ilyushin and Tupolev makers of passenger jets and Sukhoi and Mig fighter jets and helicopters. The plan is to create a lean aero industry to compete with International competition by the year 2004. The World's Largest Plane The world's largest plane took it's maiden flight recently from Ukraine's Hostomel Aerodrome. The giant Antonov-225 is the world's largest plane with a wingspan of 88 meters. The cargo bay is 43 meters long, over 6 meters wide and 4 meters high. It can accommodate 80 cars or 16 universal freight containers. The 225 is expected to receive it's commercial certification within a month and several specialised operators have shown great interest.  |
