OREANDA-NEWS. According to figures for 2013, Gazpromneft-Aero, the aviation fuel business operator of Gazprom Neft, still leads the Russian aviation fuel market in terms of retail trade volume (owning a market share of 23%). It also remains the largest provider of aircraft refueling services at Russian Air Force bases. The company provided more than 2.2 million metric tons of fuel “into-plane”, a 16% increase on 2012. Gazpromneft-Aero's total volume of aviation fuel sales also increased by 16% in 2013, reaching 3.4 million metric tons.

With 37 fueling centers, Gazpromneft-Aero currently has the largest in-house distribution network on the Russian market. The company operates at 44 airports in Russia, and a further 125 abroad. Gazpromneft-Aero had partnerships with 26 Russian airline companies in 2013, up from 20 in 2012.

In 2013, Gazpromneft-Aero sold more than 100,000 metric tons of aviation fuel outside Russia, having expanded the network of airports at which it operates from 88 to its current figure. These increases have been achieved through the development of partnerships with leading aviation fuel suppliers in local markets. Gazpromneft-Aero's strategy outlines plans to further expand its international network of airports, which will allow it to guarantee airline companies swift refueling and the best fuel prices.

Gazpromneft-Aero's investment in the modernization of fueling infrastructure at airports within Russia came to over RUB 2.7 billion. More than 70% of this sum was invested in the development of fueling stations at Russian Air Force bases.

“Gazpromneft-Aero is an active supporter of the government's program to modernize fueling infrastructure at airports. In 2014, we plan to significantly increase our investment in the development and construction of fueling stations at Russian military and civilian airports. A further priority for the current year is to branch out to Siberian airports located within trans-Siberian air corridors from Europe to Asia. In the long term, we plan to develop competitive advantages, such as an extensive distribution network and high standards of service, enabling the company to become one of the world market leaders in aviation fuel services,” commented Gazpromneft-Aero CEO Vladimir Yegorov.