Russian airline Azimut, which also operates in the Georgian market, has stated that Russia is facing serious jet fuel shortages, making “flights lose all economic sense.”
Azimut noted that in early June, a major fuel supplier announced it was forced to cut deliveries by about a third due to accidents and disruptions at oil refineries, leading to a fuel shortage.
The company reports that other suppliers are unable to cover this deficit.
Azimut also reports that fuel prices have risen: the average increase in jet fuel costs at Russian airports since early June has exceeded 17%, and in some cases has been significantly higher:
- in Makhachkala, the price of kerosene, according to the airline, rose by 64% to reach 157,000 rubles per ton excluding VAT. Meanwhile, on the global market, jet fuel prices have been declining for the third consecutive month, the company notes.
Consequently, Azimut states that operating scheduled flights is becoming unprofitable, particularly within Russia.
The company has appealed to the industry association, asking it to intervene and request that the authorities take measures to stabilize the situation regarding jet fuel supplies and prices.
As a reminder, the Russian carrier Azimut received permission to operate flights from Moscow to Tbilisi starting May 17, 2023, with flights commencing on the 19th.
