VITEBSK, 25 October (BelTA) - The first aircraft L-410 for the Vitavia airline company will land in the Vitebsk airport in January 2012, Pavel Gorodnov, chairman of the board of directors of the Vitavia Holding Group, told BelTA. In 2012, Vitavia plans to acquire two L-410 aircrafts from the Czech Industries Company a.s. Delivery of the second aircraft is scheduled for March. The two aircrafts will be designed for 17 seats, with the possibility to do some improvements in the business class cabin for eight passengers. In agreement with the manufacturer, the latter will offer retraining courses for pilot crews from Vitebsk, the first of which will go to the Czech Republic in December this year. The entire fleet of Vitavia will consist of five aircrafts L-410. About ?17 million will be spent on their purchase. The company intends to develop regional passenger transport and explore the possibility of opening flights along the routes Vitebsk-Moscow, Vitebsk-Warsaw and Vitebsk-Kaliningrad. Other routes may be elaborated too. Thus, following a working meeting at the Gomel Oblast Executive Committee, a decision was taken to develop air cargo transport from Gomel. There are plans to set up a branch of the Vitebsk in Gomel and include Gomel Oblast in a flight plan of Vitavia, added Pavel Gorodnov. Simultaneously with the development of the airline, works are underway on preparations to build infrastructure in the Vitebsk airport. The company received permission for the design of the building, hangars, and a customs warehouse with an area of about 5,000 square meters. In addition, about 32,000 square meters were allocated for the construction of administrative space, which includes the business aviation terminal, and approximately 47.5 hectares of the transport and logistics center. “Unfortunately, permission for the design was issued only on 10 October, which delayed development and harmonization of the draft business plan,” said Pavel Gorodnov. However, despite the delay, the company intends to comply with its obligations and to submit the business plan to the local authorities until the beginning of November, he added. Vitavia Holding Group of Companies has been set up with participation of the Czech company PDW Group s.r.o. to implement the investment project to develop the airport infrastructure in Vitebsk. In accordance with the investment contract, the Czech investor will set up an air company, a business aviation service company, a fuel servicing unit and an airport service company, and also a transport and logistics center near Vitebsk Airport. Project investments are estimated at ?50 million.

БЕЛТА