Aeroflot claims Euro 2,904,000 from Clariant GmbH for disruption of deliveries of anti-icing substances at the end of the past year.

In its press release the Russian flag carrier says that the German maker of the anti-icing chemicals did not fulfill its contractual obligations. This made it difficult for Aeroflot to properly and timely prepare its aircraft for flights. In turn, this caused delays and cancellations of Aeroflot passenger services at the end of the past year, when Moscow Sheremetyevo airport suffered from “icy rains”.

Aeroflot had placed orders for anti icing substances 10% larger than previous winter season. But in order to guarantee high safety standards in the view of the bad weather conditions causing intensive icing, the airline consumed a monthly stock in just few days on the New Year’s eve.

After the matter of Aeroflot flight delays and cancellations reached the top level of the Russian government, so that it was addressed by Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev and prime-minister Vladimir Putin, Aeroflot made additional purchases of anti icing chemicals so as to ensure trouble free operations by the end of the cold season.

Despite the December mishaps, Aeroflot keeps Russia’s leading airline. The Russian flag carrier transported 8.755 million passengers in 2009, the figure rising to 11.1 million if other airlines – members in the Aeroflot Group are counted. This year Aeroflot carried over 11 million passengers, according to recent estimation by general director Vitaly Savelyev.