OREANDA-NEWS. October 28, 2009. Aeroflot-Nord has temporary suspended Kirovsk / Apatity – Moscow flight during winter schedule 2009-2010 due to ‘low season’ period.

This decision is aimed at optimization of routes network and improvement of aircraft utilization efficiency. Aeroflot-Nord’s experience of flights from Kirovsk / Apatity shows that passenger flow from November to March is significantly reduced and does not allow to cover expenses for the flight operation (even on An-24). Frequently flying passengers have an opportunity to actively use facilities of the Murmansk airport, from where Aeroflot-Nord operates flights to Moscow and Saint-Petersburg on more comfortable and efficient Boeing-737 aircrafts.

According to Mr. Vitaly Shakhov, Sales and Marketing Director of Aeroflot-Nord, the airline finds it positive that the Kirovsk / Apatity airport is planning to get certificate for receiving Boeing and Embraer aircraft types, which will provide wider perspectives for summer navigation 2010, as well as allow to consider Kirovsk / Apatity airport as an alternative airport.

According to Mr. Oleg Usmanov, Director General of Aeroflot-Nord, the airline does not consider the temporary suspension of operations from Kirovsk / Apatity as termination of cooperation with corporate customers. Aeroflot-Nord continues to operate flights from Murmansk to Moscow and Saint-Petersburg, while in April 2010 the airline is to resume its flights from Kirovsk / Apatity.