Abramovich was allowed to take off

Vladimir Putin signed a decree on the creation of Airunion OJSC President Vladimir Putin signed yesterday a decree on the creation of Airunion OJSC, the share of the state in the authorized capital of which will be at least 45%. Procedures for the legal design of the aircraft and determination of the composition and share of shareholders should be completed within six months. The united airline may take second place in Russia in terms of transportation, squeezing S7 from this place (former Siberia).

A loyal attitude to the authorities, which Abramovich proved last year, signing a contract for the supply of 15 not existing regional Sukhoi Superjet-100 (SSJ) regional aircraft in the amount of $ 400 million and an option for another 15 aircraft of this type, at the tops were appreciated. Thanks to good relations with the mayors and administration of the President, Abramovich took place, without exception, all major projects of recent years were held: Airunion, the purchase of the Malev Hungarian airline and the creation of the Low-Cost-carrier of the Sky Express, which immediately received permission to work in the most box office.

The only opponent of Boris Abramovich was the Federal Property Management Agency in the person of his head Valery Nazarov. At different times and for various reasons, the department put sticks in Abramovich’s wheels, but each time he went out the winner. This time, Abramovich Nazarov defeated: in Airunion, the state will have 45% of the shares, and not the control package, as Valery Nazarov proposed.

The state’s contribution to the Alliance will be 51% of the Krasaire shares, 50% of Domodedovo Airlines (DAL) and 46.5% of the Samara airline. Private shareholders will bring their shares to the holding in companies: “Krasair” - 49%, gave - 49.7%, Samara - 53.51%, Omskavia - 100%, Sibavianatrans - 100%, as well as 100%of Airunion -RRJ LLC with more than $ 20 million, specially created for the purchase of SSJ aircraft.

The association of state and private airlines under the roof of the alliance will apparently change the alignment of forces in Russian civil aviation. Last year, 4.9 million passengers were transported by the companies included in the holding. With the same indicators, the second for today the Russian air carrier - S7. However, in the reserve, Airunion has a recently acquired Hungarian Malev Hungarian. So according to the results of 2007, it is likely that the second place will remain for Airunion.

True, the leadership of Aeroflot is not threatening the new alliance. In 2006, the state -owned company transported over 7 million passengers. The total revenue for the alliance in 2006 amounted to 24.3 billion rubles, and Aeroflot had 71.3 billion rubles. Finally, Aeroflot has 90 aircraft in the asset, and the new holding has 70.

So far, the markets in which both companies will work are incomparable. If up to 30% of Aeroflot transportation falls on the external market, then Airunion is far far from such an indicator. Although the Alliance has already made an application for his share of foreign transportation by buying Malev.

At the same time, Boris Abramovich’s companies are growing much more actively than Aeroflot. The average revenue of Airunion participants last year increased by 24%, and Aeroflot by 13.53%. The growth of passenger transportation at Aeroflot amounted to 8.7%, and in Crasayir - 54% (34% on average alliance).

In any case, the state will not remain in the same way. Already owning the main carrier, it added almost half of the new alliance, which over time can take the second line in the Russian table of ranks. This will consolidate 30-35% of the Russian air transportation market under the state control.

05/02/2007 / Vladimir Stepanov, the material was published in the newspaper No. 78 dated 03.05.2007.