Aeroflot short on fuel, fares soaring
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MOSCOW. Dec 20 (Interfax) – About 40% of Russia’s aircraft – some 2,800 aircraft and helicopters, including 25-30 aircraft used on international routes - are not in use due to a lack of fuel and spare parts, Russian Transport Ministry's Air Transport Department Director, Alexander Larin, said at a press conference in Moscow.
Soviet aviation used over 15 million tonnes of fuel in 1990, with Russia getting through 12 million–13 million tonnes, he said. The amount of fuel allocated for 1991 was below the requested volume.
The ministry's officials said that domestic air fares for January 1992 would triple.
There might be another increase in February. The January fares for international flights will stay as they are, but the number of seats requiring combined payment in rubles and foreign currencies will grow. Fares are expected to grow on these routes as well.