OREANDA-NEWS. February 15, 2011. AVIANOVA, Russia’s low-cost airline, has been forced to reconsider its plans for transport development on St. Petersburg market and intends to reduce the number of flights from the Northern Capital due to a lack of cooperation from Pulkovo airport and their inability to provide an appropriate economic condition to the airline. This decision was announced earlier today after a morning meeting of AVIANOVA and Northern Capital Gateway management.

AVIANOVA started operations to Sankt-Petersburg in April 2010 and now has a virtual base with five destinations served from Northern Capital. In late 2010 AVIANOVA presented the management of Pulkovo airport a proposal to base a number of aircraft at St. Petersburg, hire local crew and expand its route network from St. Petersburg to 15 destinations where ultra-low 250 rubles fares will be provided to stimulate domestic traffic. However, despite clear prospects of cooperation and positive outlook for the development of AVIANOVA services at the airport, Pulkovo authorities were unable to offer suitable commercial and expansion conditions.

AVIANOVA will reconsider plans for 2011 and relocate aircraft to other more promising markets within Russia using more cooperative airports in other cities for basing the airline's growing fleet.

"The attitude of Pulkovo is very disappointing as a true low-cost airline we create entirely new patterns of air travel and bring new category of first time travellers to airports. We have delivered on that promise in 2010 contributed substantially to Pulkovo's 30% growth. Many other regions and airports have recognized the powerful impact of low fares on both airport throughput and on local economic and tourism development, - says Andrew Pyne, AVIANOVA CEO - We failed to achieve any meeting of minds here on either commercial or expansion terms. Pulkovo will not be an AVIANOVA base for aircraft in future although we will continue to serve the city albeit at reduced frequency from various points. We believe that the airport - and the city - has lost a great opportunity to be at the forefront of Russia's low fare revolution. A potential 400 new jobs with the development of the base have also been lost".