deterioration of Ukrainian airlines was particularly noticeable at the end of last year. And there was a record for the past 5 years increased the number of sorties and carried over complaints filed by passengers to airlines. Experts attribute this to the financial difficulties of carriers, as well as the lack of serious penalties and weak competition.

rapid decline

“Last year we had a phenomenal rise in the number of carry-over flights, unexpected technical problems on board the aircraft, and claims from passengers to airlines. The quality of services in the aviation industry - is primarily a compliance schedule and high security. On both indicators, we have problems “- said a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport and Communications Alexei Baburin.

According to the committee in 2009, the number of sorties carried increased by 6.7%, of complaints against the airlines - by 21,2% (see graphic), while in 2008 the increase was 3% and 16,3% respectively. In addition, the aircraft Ukrainian airlines first appeared dangerous technical failure. Thus, the plane Aerosvit Airlines office early last year was forced to return to the Sharm el-Sheikh because of the failure of one of the engines. Finally, the first cases of serious conflicts between passengers and airline workers. According to the passengers Wizz Air, the company management decided to postpone the flight London-Kiev and demanded the release of the aircraft, the passengers had already gone into it. When they refused to do so, the company”s management led the police with dogs, which used tear gas against passengers.

particularly difficult situation, according to the head of the Committee on Transport and Communications Vladimir Kozak, formed late last year, when the volume of air after a sharp decline sharply. “Due to technical problems with aircraft and airport congestion time in which the flights were delayed significantly increased”, - said Baburin. Previously, the delay did not exceed 2-3 hours, then the flight number 1237 Kiev Tel Aviv Aerosvit Airlines, for example, was detained for 5 hours, the flight number 131 Kiev-New York - all for 3 days.

According to Kozak, the problem is related to the policy of the Cabinet of Ministers in the field of transport. “It is the combination of factors: low training aviation department managers, lack of control over the schedule departure of aircraft in the country, as well as the lack of logistics research in passenger traffic,” - he said. However, according to Alexei Baburin, is responsible for leadership of the Ministry of Transport is not so much as airlines and airports themselves.

Problems caught off guard

analyst company INFOM Boris Rybak said that the airline could not cope with the traffic volume in 2005, the beginning of rapid growth in the industry. But in early 2009, there was a decrease in traffic volumes, and many airlines have tried to reduce costs. According to the director of the Center for Economic and Policy Analysis Alexander Kawa, some airlines have lost their income due to the revision of the route network and the closure of certain areas, which could well work.

According to Alexey Baburin, the main cause of reduced quality of service was to reduce the airlines since the beginning of 2009 the staff costs and maintenance of aircraft. They simply were not ready for that at the end of the year will be a surge in demand. “Wages in the Ukrainian airline after the reduction does not hold water, many professionals leave. I think you need to upgrade the skills of workers, then improve the quality of passenger service,” - he said.

Baburin sure that to some extent contributed to the situation and differences between the shareholders of companies. “While the war went corporate, management was not up to investment and improve quality. Cares about something else,” - he said. Recall that last year the owner of 19% “Aerosvit” Aaron Mayberg sold his shares structures loyal businessman Vladimir Gurtovoy and the group “Privat”.

The airlines themselves have denied that the crisis and cuts in funding affected the technical condition of aircraft. “On the technical condition of the fleet, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) crisis did not affect and influence could not - the security was and remains the main priority of the airline,” - said a spokeswoman UIA Eugene Satskaya. However, she conceded that, if Ukraine will not develop its own aircraft, but will buy aircraft abroad, then we will sooner or later will not find the required amount of funds in order to timely update the technology park.

The airline blamed the problems encountered in the first airports. Thus Satskaya argues that UIA feel shortage of terminal space for ground handling of passengers, because of which often delays flights. “We hope that the movement of MAU in the new terminal F Borispol Airport in the spring of this year will allow us to feel more comfortable,” - she said. In addition, Eugenia Satskaya noted that the Ukrainian airports is still a monopoly in the industry and, accordingly, the airlines dictate the terms of payment of their services that are not always adequate quality of service. The press service of “Aerosvit” made no comments.

carriers agree with the claims and in the Parliament Committee on Transport and Communications. “At the peak load, for example, before the New Year and during the holiday season (early May-late August),” Borispol “not able to accept all passengers and simply programmed to fail,” - says Alexey Baburin. And Vladimir Kozak stressed that, according to the committee last year, work to expand the “Boryspil”, about which the Transport Ministry said, were not fully funded.

Looking tough measures

According to Vladimir Kozak, the situation can change only by tightening control over the airline industry by the state. “Over the past 2 years, none of Ukrainian airlines was not fined for the deterioration of the quality of work. If there was strict control of the Ministry of Transport and Communications, plus an economic tool in the form of fines, they would think 100 times before you cut spending on staff and other needs, and to expel the passengers with dogs, “- he said.

Kozak believes that the situation should change after the adoption of the Air Code, but is an option that was introduced to the Verkhovna Rada, the Government does not meet European standards. “Among other things there is no rule on liability of airlines for the provision of substandard services,” - the head of committee.

However, according to Baburin, the situation must change for the better since the adoption of the Law “On protection of rights of air passengers in the event of denied boarding, cancellation or delay of their flight, recorded in October 2009. It proposes to legalize the Ukrainian air carrier liability to passengers for delays or cancellation of flights. In particular, the document requires carriers to pay compensation to passengers for the cancellation of flights, except when they were warned about this beforehand. Compensation range from 250 to 600 euros depending on the length of the voyage.

Meanwhile, Alexander Cava sure that the changes in the market should not be limited to the tightening measures. In his view, the main thing - to increase competition between airlines. “If you remember, recently had a conflict between Germany and Ukraine, and the Lufthansa forbidden to carry out flights to Dnepropetrovsk. A similar situation - at the Donetsk airport where restricted competition, giving preferences to certain airlines. All of this leads to problems of quality, because monopolists are not interested in improving the quality of their services, “- says Cava. To change this situation, the state must protect the interests of not just one or two, and all Ukrainian airlines, including in the negotiations on the opening of new routes, the expert believes. He notes that in EU countries, where in every direction operates several airlines, the cost of services at 30-40% lower than in Ukraine.

“passenger enters into a contract with the airline, it bears responsibility”

Boris Shahsuvarov, director general of State Enterprise “International airport” Borispol “”

- With what amount of transfers related to an increase in flights at the airport “Borispol” lately?

- If the fault of the airport delays are occurring, it is isolated incidents caused by lack of organization staff. In each case we disassembled. But I state with full responsibility I want to say that talking about massive delays on the part of the airport is not necessary. The lion”s share of them - about 50% - linked to the late arrival of aircraft. Last year, the largest number of delays caused by the fault of our core company “Aerosvit”. There have been setbacks and carries more than a day. Blame the financial problems of the company, which lead to a lack of serviceable aircraft.

- What effect on airport operations difficult weather conditions in December 2009?

- no special difficulties in December, was not. But the 28-29 December 2009 and 6-7 January 2010 dropped 63 cm of snow. We estimate that only hard surface it was necessary to remove 220 cubic meters of snow. We managed to do it in less than three days, 12 cars were involved, which can remove the snow with a layer of 20 cm at a speed of 60 km /h. Even in European airports and with less rainfall are extremely complex situations.

- What other factors besides poor performance of airlines, led to delays?

- Not all companies the same problem. For example, “Ukraine International Airlines today are more prepared for the difficult conditions of work - and such incidents as the” Aerosvit “, with this company is not happening. But there are a number of factors - the Eurocontrol air traffic control in the euro area, the delay in arrival at the airport - which lead to delay in departure. So to say that at 100% to blame for the company, I can not.

- How can we solve the problem of waiting passengers?

- Add a seat in the building of the station fails. We put people in places that have not yet put into operation, put coolers with water, distributing and selling sandwiches. But there is a small nuance: the passenger enters into a contract with the airline - it bears full responsibility to their passengers, not the airport.

- the Ministry of Transport believes that the airport can not cope with existing traffic volumes. How do you intend to change the situation?

- Borispol Airport today has two runways and serves about 300 flights a day. Theoretically, we could serve up to 10-12 million passengers per year. But, unfortunately, airport capacity is not determined by the number of runways, not the amount of parking, and above all a capacity of terminals. Unfortunately, the situation in one day is not correct. In March 2009 we began construction of low-cost terminal F. Hopefully, it will end the summer season. New capacity will allow us to unload the terminal B to 50%. There also is being renovated Terminal B, is constructed so-called third gallery. Because the conveniences in the terminal A, which now serves domestic flights, can not speak, we are planning the launch into operation of the terminal F to transfer some passengers in the terminal B.

- Will the rebuilt Terminal A?

- Originally, in 1987, it was built to serve the Allied lines. But after the collapse of the USSR by 1992, passenger traffic decreased by ten times. On the day we had three or four flights. Eventually we moved the CIS flights in Terminal B and Terminal A was left for domestic transport. But I want to emphasize that this is not terminal, and adapted the building.

- How many terminals do you intend tobuild in the next five years?

- Two Terminal - F and D.

- How to increase the capacity of the airport?

- It will grow to 15 million passengers a year. We changed the initial draft of the terminal D - its design capacity has been increased from 1.5 thousand to 3 thousand people per hour. In 2008, the peak load reached 3 thousand passengers per hour. In 2009, because of the crisis, ridership fell by 13-14%. To some extent we felt better. We strive to take a respite in order to quickly achieve our two projects. When we complete the construction of the terminal F, we have a reserve power to increase the volume of traffic in the next two to three years.

- How much money is needed in order to make a “Boryspil” modern, European transport hub - a hub?

According to the master plan for airport development to 2030 in order to bring traffic to 40 million passengers a year (in the presence of two bands as possible), you need at least $ 2.6 billion to implement this plan requires state support. The airport can not cope if he”ll take credit. Today, the state will only fund the construction of solid surfaces. Everything else is done through their own resources and loans. Construction of the terminal D is partially funded by a loan from a Japanese bank - up to 30% of the construction. A terminal F relies solely on the airport facilities. From its own funds we cover the costs of development of industrial infrastructure.

“In” Borispol “to change and improve almost everything”

Vasyl Shevchenko, and. about. Minister of Transport and Communications

- last time in Ukraine, acts of transfer flights and increased the number of complaints against the airline by passengers. What is the reason?

- Since the early 1990″s passenger traffic in the aviation industry mostly declined. So airports have worked to expand capacity and to retain existing ones. But since the early 2000″s traffic was growing, and most airports started having problems. The situation was exacerbated by the fact that 90% of passenger traffic was held at the airport “Borispol”, and the other airports in the normal mode with international flights were not working. There was a need to empower “Borispol”.

- What are the plans for the development of “Boryspil”?

- First of all, on the eve of Euro 2012, we plan to complete the construction of Terminal D. In the meantime, built a terminal F, which will be put into operation in April this year. It has already solved all the problems with the construction of housing, 50% held glazing, built entrances to the terminal and the apron. All this will increase freight traffic through Boryspil, as well as reduce the number of delayed flights and complaints from passengers.

- What linked a significant number of delays flights at the end of last December and early January of this?

- We are still studying the reasons for these delays. Of course, primarily influenced by the weather: because of bad weather, flight delays were not only in “Borispol”, but also in many other European airports. But we need to understand that this situation exists, including because of the economic crisis, which led to the global decline in air travel in early 2009. Reducing passenger airlines affected the work and led to the fact that the situation deteriorated to the update of the flight park. And if just before departure is that the vessel is faulty, of course, you need to cancel the flight.

- The largest number of delayed flights was the company “Aerosvit”. How do you explain this?

- I think that the problem of “Aerosvit” associated with the process of privatization of state, as well as the change of ownership of the company.

- What, in your opinion, should develop the airport “Borispol”?

- In the future, “Borispol” may well turn into a hub with the ability to refuel aircraft. The airport has a very advantageous geographic location and can compete with Istanbul and Moscow on a number of ways. But for this to “Borispol” to change and improve almost everything - fueling systems, navigation, and to build new, modern terminals. I also believe that the future - the development of domestic airports. This will alleviate some pressure from “Boryspil”. I think that this incentive would be to work a few new AN-148 and development of domestic flights. And will develop domestic flights - will of the international and regional airports. So, freed the transit potential of the airport “Borispol”.

Number of flights, postponed Ukrainian air carriers from the total number of flights,%

Источник: Комитет Верховной рады по транспорту и связи

Количество жалоб на действия украинских авиакомпаний

Источник: Комитет Верховной рады по транспорту и связи

Олег Гавриш, Андрей Леденев

The mood of the market set the weak futures on the SP and negative dynamics on Asian markets
Forex Market 26/01/2010
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