On January 10, 2010 an award ceremony was held, congratulating the Voronezh Best Company Award winners on stage of Koltsov Drama Theatre, Voronezh.

Polet Airlines was declared the Best Company of Voronezh region in Transport category.

Voronezh Best Company Award 2009 was established with support of Government and Investment Attracting Agency of Voronezh region.

Polet Airlines performs regular passenger flights since 2003 and is one of the air transportation leaders in Central region, being the main carrier at Voronezh airport.

Press Service Polet Airlines

Anatoly Stepanovich, did you like the interior of AN-148 business version that was presented at MAKS-2009?

Yes, I did. As we know, Russian manufacturers has never produced business aircrafts for VIP-carriages and do not produce it now. That is why the mere fact that such reputed R&D company as Antonov ASTC together with Ilyushin Finance leasing company and other companies made an offer for business version of AN-148 jet. It is a first step, and, I think, this step is successful. Polet Airlines knows this market quite well because we have business jets and we provide VIP charters. I think this aircraft is really promising.

As far as we know, Polet Airlines has placed an order for ten An-148-100V, passenger version. Do you think it is possible that Antonov Business Jet will its place in your aircraft park?

It cannot be ruled out that we order the aircraft of this kind with VIP cabin interior.

Just the same as presented by Alexey Uporov at Rusaviainter’s stand, Decco style?

Well, the style is up to customer. Actually, nowadays it’s not a problem to order the interior that should be fully done as requested by a particular client. The main thing is the aircrafts reliability and good performance characteristics - range, speed, flight altitude. Also, the aircraft shall have a cabin of a big size and shall meet all the modern requirements to navigation equipment and avionics, environmental standards and so on. Actually, VIP customers are much different from regular flight passengers. They are more particular about quality, more exacting. Sometimes their requirements contradict one another, they may want one thing together with the opposite thing at the same time, but the airline engaged in business aviation services shall do as much as possible to provide what they want.

Anatoly Stepanovich, at MAKS-2009 there was an IL-96-400T with your colors. Was it presented by your company or other participant?

IL-96-400Т was presented by Polet Airlines.

What was the objective of presenting this aircraft at the exhibition?

The objective is aircraft promotion at cargo transportation market.

How many IL-96-400T jets do you have now at your park?

We have already received thee and we want to have three more next year.

When do you plan to start commercial transportations by IL-96-400T?

We expect to start mid-September.

Press Service Polet Airlines

Polet Airlines’ IL-96-400T jet was exhibited at MAKS-2009 during the whole period of exhibition and air show. On August 18, 2009 Polet’s IL-96-400Т made a flight demonstration together wit IL-114.

This demonstration of flight and also a chance to get into the cabin and freight hold kindled the interest of guests and participants of MAKS-2009 air show and exhibition.

During the three days business part of MAKS international air show Polet Airlines managers had a number of successful meetings with representatives of regional administrations, finance groups, Russian and foreign companies involved in aviation business.

Polet Airlines held the negotiations with its finance partners that declared they are ready to provide all-round support of projects of cargo and passenger aircraft fleet expansion. The parties also discussed the possible passenger route expansion.

There also were discussions with loading devices and airport equipment manufacturers and potential customers about cargo carriages by IL-96-400T at planned regular rules.

The partners and new customers were really interested, and their interest shows that the aircraft of this type shall be meet a high demand at regular cargo carriage market, and its operation shall be really effective, as a part of current aviation business.

Press Service Polet Airlines

Aircompany “Polet”, which controls the Voronezh international airport, take part in negotiations about funds employment for the development of new airport with annual capacity of 2.5 million. Among potential investors for the project were named Siemens AG, Turkish construction company Tepe Akfen Ventures and “Engineering company “Transstroi”, JSC. Volume of investment can amount up to € 112.5 million. Analysts agree, that existent airport, constructed to meet the annual capacity of 300.000, is very small, but they also have doubts that demand for air transportation in Voronezh will reach the capacity of the new building, so chances to find an investor for this project are quite small.

As Anatoly Karpov, main owner and Director General of Aircompany “Polet”, said, Siemens AG, Tepe Akfen Ventures or Transstroi can become the investor of new airport project. Preliminary talks with representatives were already conducted. Volume of investment will be around €112.5 million.”Premises shall be about 45.000 square meters. Cost of turnkey construction will be about €2.500 per square meter”, specified businessmen, and also added that there is also the variant then building with lower capacity (1.5 million annually) but with further possibility of extension will be built.

According to Mr.Karpov, existent airport has annual capacity of 300.000, which is very low. “We simply cannot extend our fleet. We don’t have governmental support. So we need to take the initiative”, pointed Anatoly Karpov, and also explained that he hopes to receive support from the regional government. At once he said, that “Polet” won’t participate financially in this project. “Our goal is to buy aircrafts, but not to build the airport. Our task consists in attracting of investor”, said Mr.Karpov.

Aircompany “Polet” was established in the year 1988 in Voronezh. Company is engaged in passenger and cargo transportation. Nowadays company fleet consists of six AN-124, six SAAB-2000, two AN-30, one AN-24 and one IL-96-400T. Base airport is Voronezh airport. In the year 2008 company transported 217 900 passengers (22% growth from 2007). Financial highlights are not known. “Polet” is under control of its Director General Anatoly Karpov.

Boris Rybak, Director General of consulting company Infomost, agreed that capacity of existent airport is definitely low, thus and so he considered the project of extension (initially to 1.5 million, then to 2.5 million) very logical. Object of investor attracting in current economical circumstances was mentioned by Mr. Rybak as very praiseworthy but awkward. “First of all it is because the demand for air transportation in Voronezh, which is unlikely reach such level in short-term perspective, even if “Polet” successfully extend its regional network”, said Mr. Rybak. As he estimated, decrease in amount of passenger traffic in Russia in first half of 2009 is about 18%.

Vladimir Malahov, Director of Lipetsk airport, considered that “Polet” shouldn’t bank on the regional government to raise funds. Chances of attracting of investors, as he mentioned, depend on how planned capacity will balance with the real amount of passengers. “Annual amount of 2.5 million practically means that flights shall be conducted each 5-6 minutes, and 350 passengers per hour shall enjoy airport services. Nowadays it is about 20 passengers”, said Mr. Malahov.

It is worth to highlight that Siemens has already made announcements about its intention to invest in Voronezh region. In February 2009 previous regional administration signed the agreement about construction of high-voltage transformers factory. Volume of investment was considered as €30-50 million; capacity of this factory wasn’t disclosed. As Andrei Sobolev, investment vice-premier, said at that moment, this project was to have been realized by 2011, it was planned to place the factory on 6.2 hectares near Novovoronezh.

Nowadays JSC “Aerodromstroi-A”, subsidiary of Aerodromstroi group, executes the first stage of reconstruction of Voronezh airport. Company will, with governmental support in amount of 160 million rubles, reconstruct landing strip and its drainage, recover the perimeter barrier and patrol road, create new treatment facilities. Until October, 24 Voronezh airport will be closed for departure and arrivals from 8.30 pm to 7 am at Mondays and Tuesdays, from 11.30 am to 8.30 pm from Thursday to Sunday.

©Kommersant-Voronezh

Polet Airlines is glad to show to you the new version of company’s website www.polet.ru. New site is functional, easy and impressive. Light air-like design goes well with detailed content and user-friendly structure.

We tried to make this site easy to use. The main page shows the company’s basic activities: passenger transportation, cargo carriage and business aviation.

When we were developing the new design, we assumed that corporate website is the first point where the passenger meets the airline, whether it is a selection of flight, schedule or information about airline’s programs and special rates. The main focus of site reconstruction was informational content, ease of reference, friendly search and effective use of information.

Passenger Transportation page at www.polet.ru provides the details about company’s services, main components of air travel, frequent flyers programs, cities and airports of destination.

The most important of updated functions is On-Line Booking. Interactive module allows the passengers to book tickets promptly and easily.

At the moment the site has a Russian and English version, and German version is next in turn. We are going to continue the site development and add a number of new functions.

Press Service Polet Airlines