Wildberries & Russ structure acquires Magas Airport in Ingushetia for 425 mln rubles - authorities

MAGAS. Sept 22 (Interfax) - A company from the Wildberries structure Apr-City/TVD LLC has bought 100% of the shares of JSC Oskanov Magas International Airport in Ingushetia, the head of the republic Mahmud-Ali Kalimatov said on Telegram.

"We were purposefully moving towards this step, understanding that serious investment is needed for the airport's further development. Initially, the shares were valued at 250 million rubles, but as a result of an auction in which two companies participated, the transaction price reached 425 million rubles. The funds will be directed towards implementing social programs in our republic," Kalimatov said.

This strategic partnership opens new possibilities for developing transport infrastructure and the economy of Ingushetia, he said.

"Wildberries is a major and successful player in the market, and we are confident that their investment will make it possible to modernize the airport, significantly improving its infrastructure and increasing its throughput capacity and level of security. We are counting on the opening of new aviation routes, including international ones, which will undoubtedly give an impetus to the development of tourism in our region and create new jobs," he said.

As reported, the authorities of Ingushetia decided to sell 100% of the shares of JSC Magas International Airport at auction due to a difficult economic situation.

Currently, Magas Airport operates under limited traffic conditions, with only one regular flight per day operated on the Magas-Moscow route. Attempts to increase the number of routes were made but had a temporary effect. Until 2022, the airport served flights to St. Petersburg, Samara, Tyumen, Sochi and Petrozavodsk. Subsequently, due to changes in the aviation market, many airlines reduced their aircraft fleets and revised their routes, including declining to operate flights to a number of regional airports, including Magas. Because of this, the airport found itself in a difficult economic situation again.

Maintaining the facility costs the republic's budget approximately 100 million rubles annually.