By September the company, the biggest in Northwest Russia, might be deprived is license, a press release from the Russian Federal Agency of Air Traffic reads. According to the agency, Aeroflot-Nord will from 15 June 2009 be disallowed to fly international charter tours. The company will also no longer be allowed to use aircrafts, which have overdue repair service.
In addition, the company will have to present a refinancing plan as well as a plan of measures on how to secure financial stability.
According to NRK.no, an Aeroflot-Nord aircraft was today held back in the Norwegian Tromsø Airport, reportedly because the Russian company has been banned from operating all over the European air space. That, however, is rebuffed by Aeroflot-Nord Press Secretary Anton Popov, who in an email says that the aircraft was held back because of a misunderstanding.
Aeroflot Nord has over the last years been troubled by several serious accidents and security violations, the worst of which is last year’s catastrophic crash in Perm.
A ban and subsequent bankruptcy of Aeroflot Nord would however be a major blow to transport communications in Northwest Russia. It would also hamper east-west communications in the Barents Region. Aeroflot-Nord is the only company operating between Northwest Russia and northern Norway.
The company operates primarily with the An-24 aircrafts. It is however also in the process of acquiring a fleet of Boeing 737s.
