East Line founder and owner Dmitry Kamenshik, rather than top managers of Domodedovo, carried out control functions in the ailing Moscow airport during the three-day crisis caused by the Sunday blackout.

Speaking to Russian media, Transaero chairman Aleksander Pleshakov said that Domodedovo management did not perform satisfactory in the emergency situation caused by the electricity blackout that occurred in the morning of December 26. He further said that “everything in Domodedovo worked under command of Dmitry Kamenshik”.

Dmitry Kamenshik is the founder and co-owner of East Group that controls Domodedovo airport since the late 1990s. Roughly a year ago he fired Sergei Rudakov, the previous Domodedovo airport director. Rudakov kept this post since East Line took control over Domodedovo. Vyacheslav Nekrasov served in this capacity until December 30, 2010, when came its turn to be fired.

Transaero’s leader made it clear that the airport top managers were not efficient, and so he and other airline leaders had to apply directly to Dmitry Kamenshik when it was necessary to resolve difficult situations with delayed flights.

Pleshakov further said he is annoyed by the quality of services Domodedovo provides for the airline’s widebody jetliners. During the three-day blackout crisis the situation further impoverished.

This makes Transaero seek alternatives. The airline already operates three Boeing 747 out of Sheremetievo and is going to rebase more widebody aircraft there. In the coming spring the number of Transaero 747s operating out of Sheremetievo shall rise to 7-8 aircraft.

Transaero plans to carry about 80 thousand passengers in the period of 26-31 December 2010.