Aeroflot speeds-up fleet change and dumps IL-86's

[Pieter C. 5]

October 24, 2006

Russian airline Aeroflot will speed up reform of its ageing fleet, it said on Tuesday, announcing plans to pull its nine fuel-thirsty Ilyushin Il-86 planes from service next month.

Aeroflot already flies planes from Airbus and Boeing, and both manufacturers see potential for growth in Russia as airlines upgrade their fleets.

 

"Il-86 planes will not be in use starting November 15, and it is too costly to keep them through the winter and fly just two or three months in the summer," Aeroflot's Deputy Director General Igor Desyatnichenko told reporters.

 

He said the planes were fuel-guzzling and did not meet Europe's rigid noise and environmental standards.

 

Aeroflot is looking for potential buyers or lessees for its Il-86s, he said, but declined to give no further details.

 

The Il-86 has been in use since 1980 and was Russia's first wide-bodied airliner, making it more comfortable than most Soviet-designed planes.

 

With seating for up to 350 passengers, the Il-86 is used by Russian airlines for charter flights to carry tourists to popular resorts during the summer months.

 

Russia's airliner industry has withered since the Soviet Union's demise in 1991, with just 8 planes manufactured last year, according to the federal industry agency, compared with 378 delivered by Airbus, for example.

 

(Reuters)

 

Bye-bye beautiful & noisy 'friend'; always liked their baggage system: passenger boarded the aircraft via stairs to the lower part to put their baggage in the hold, before ascending one more floor and find their seats

 

[Mischa 1]

Hi Pieter,

 

 

That is a pity to hear. I do love alomost every Russian build aircraft and theya are getting so rare now here in Werstern Europe already.

[S V Choong 4]

The 777 or A330 should do a very nice job for Aeroflot. Would think 777-200ER and 777-300ER is a better choice for long haul services for them.

[Isaac 0]

The 777 or A330 should do a very nice job for Aeroflot. Would think 777-200ER and 777-300ER is a better choice for long haul services for them.

But they have phased out all of their 772 not so long ago

 

[KK Lee 5]

 

Compared with Boeing or Airbus, it is reported that Soviet plane consumed twice as much as fuel e.g. 6 tons per hour for TU154 vs 3 tons per hour for 757.

 

[Min Chun 0]

 

Bye-bye beautiful & noisy 'friend'; always liked their baggage system: passenger boarded the aircraft via stairs to the lower part to put their baggage in the hold, before ascending one more floor and find their seats

 

Never know that, Pieter..

[Sandeep G 1]

Il 86s are gone (from Aeroflot), but those Il-96s are absolutely lovely!