Russia's Gazpromavia plans to further expand its 108 aircraft fleet with more long range aircraft including two B737-700s as it ramps up its corporate air service to Gazprom.

Two Falcon 900EXs were delivered late last year boosting the fixed wing aircraft total to nearly 40. Gazpromavia's director general Andrey S. Ovcharenko says: "Gazprom is now selling gas to European countries and to China and other parts of Asia. It means that our support services need to have a strong long range element and we will add to the fleet as necessary to carry out our duties. There is a lot of demand for longer range aircraft."

Gazpromavia, launched on 7 March 1995, is the biggest corporate aviation company in Russia with an increasing number of Falcons among the jets in its fleet that have an intercontinental range. It also boasts two of its own airports, Ostafievo and Yamburgt, and widespread infrastructure with branches in Kaluga, Perm, Samara, Sochi, Ukhta, Yugorsk and Yamburg.

Ovcharenko says: "An international centre of business aviation and minor cargo transportation in the Ostafievo airport will be built up. This centre is designed to become the leading enterprise in the field of vip services and business aviation. Very soon it'll become the only Moscow international business aviation airport with the others functioning as business terminals of public airports."

Gazpromavia operates from these two airports, one of them, its base airport Ostafyevo, has the advantage of being only five kilometres from Moscow. Ostafyevo will host the Dassault Falcon Service authorised maintenance centre and the Eurocopter authorised maintenance facility.

Gazpromavia prides itself on offering a comprehensive package of aviation services. "Our flight programmes combine high security level and service quality," says Ovcharenko.

There is a big focus on fleet modernisation. Dassault Falcon 900 variations provide 34 of its aircraft although the fleet also ranges over various versions of Yak-42D, Yak-40, Tu-154M, AN-74 IL-76TD and 74 MI-2, MI-8 and KA-26 helicopters.

"All aircraft were manufactured after 1990 and are equipped with modern avionics: satellite navigation systems, mid-air collision and ground proximity warning systems," Ovcharenko adds. "Our company has been actively increasing the volume of business transportation lately and is one of the leaders of the Russian business aviation, possessing the biggest business class air fleet in Russia and offering in-flight service that is up to world standards."

Gazpromavia is Russia's only corporate airline with regular scheduled operations. Apart from its vip operations there is a growing emphasis on aerial work: survey, monitoring, patrolling, material support of construction sites, gas lines and field development, search and rescue and medical.

Ovcharenko says: "We have a unique experience of working in extreme conditions, regions difficult of access and polar regions. A Gazpromavia squadron flies to the North and South Poles, supporting expeditions and floating stations. "

Gazpromavia's main objective is dynamic development and increasing competitiveness based on the best traditions of Russian civil aviation.