OREANDA-NEWS. On 31 December 2008 was announced, that Vnukovo International and Syrian Arab Airlines (Syrianair), Syria’s flag carrier, had celebrated half a year’s successful coopearation. A formal reception to commemorate the event was held in the Government of Moscow Building on Novy Arbat with the representatives of the RF Ministry of Transport, the Government of Moscow, the Embassy of Syria in the Russian Federation, those of Syrianair and Vnukovo International, of tour operators and travel agencies as well as those of Syria’s business circles in attendance.

In his opening statement at the event Mr. Kedban Naser, Syrianair’s Director Regional, expressed his gratitude to the Vnukovo Intenrnational staff for their succour and attention toward the airline over the period. He noted that Syrianair’s decision to transfer its flights to Vnukovo International had been preceded by a protracted and rigorous cost analysis. In Mr. Naser’s words, “By operating its Damascus – Moscow service into/out of Vnukovo International, the airline makes a fifteen-minute flight time saving on each leg”. “In economic terms, this figure adds up to a total of USD 1600 saved during each flight accordingly”, Mr. Naser pointed out. He also informed the audience of plans on the part of Syrianair to launch a further Aleppo service out Vnukovo International sometime in 2009. He said that Syrianair was expecting to carry a total of 13,5 thousand passengers between Syria and Moscow this year, plus a further 17 thousand or so air travelers who will use the route in the year to come.

Vnukovo international’s Director General Vasily Alexandrov pointed out in his address, that the inauguration of the Syrianair service to Damascus in June, this year, became a significant milestone for the Airport. He said that both Syria and the Middle East on the whole were of great interest to Vnukovo International [as potential markets] and offered good outlook for further development of air services. Mr. Alexandrov further noted that the Damascus service by Syrianair was enjoying a high degree of demand among air travelers. The current load factors on the route average 73 percent, whereas during the summer navigation they would peak out at above 90 percent. Mr. Alexandrov expressed his hope that ever more air travelers would prefer the Syrianair services in the future as well. “On our part we strive to do our best to improve the quality of service offered to both the air travelers and carriers that we welcome at our Airport” he continued. He also pointed out that a number of capital construction projects were underway at the Airport as part of its Long-Term Renovation and Development Plan. The projects pursued most vigorously and proactively include the new passenger Terminal A with the total floor space offering of 250 thousand square meters, the new mail & cargo facility totaling 56,8 thousand square meters in floor space, and the new four-star hotel facility in the Airport’s forecourt area, that will eventually offer its guests a total of 439 rooms and suites.

The Syrian flag carrier operated its first Damascus-Moscow flight into Vnukovo International on June 10 this year. Nowadays Syrianair provides scheduled air services linking Vnukovo International with the capital of Syria, with the twice-weekly frequency operated on Tuesdays and Saturdays, using the A-320 mid-range twinjets as standard equipment on the route. The jetliners have a two-class passenger cabin layout (business + coach). The airline has operated a total of 50 round-trip services and carried 11,3 thousand passengers over the period under review.

Founded in 1946, initially as a regional carrier operating services to Baghdad, Beirut, Jerusalem, Kuwait, Cairo, and Doha, the Syrian Arab Airlines of today is one of the leading Middle-Eastern carriers with a fleet of 13 jet airliners comprising the A-320, B-747, and B-727 types. The airline serves in excess of 50 destinations throughout the Middle East, Europe, Asia and North Africa. The carrier is also member of the AACO (Arab Air Carriers Organisation) alliance, which unites a total of 24 airlines.