Down To Business
In Eastern Europe

      Stan Wraight, an expert on Eastern European and Russian air cargo, with 40 years in the business overall, said the market is still maturing as Russia develops its infrastructure.
      Wraight, who recently left a major Russian all-freight carrier after four years, says the Russian market will definitely improve in future, while the big drawback to airfreight there remains antiquated customs and central bank rules. Being optimistic, he said he sees reforms of those rules in the next five to 10 years.
      “Unless these are brought up to world standards, gateways such as Helsinki and double transit documents will remain an option,” Wraight told Air Cargo News/FlyingTypers.
      He says he sees the dominant players in Russia being Aeroflot and Air Bridge Cargo, and said as the potential is truly realized, slowly other carriers, such as Atlant, Soyuz and Transaero will also become more prominent.
      Wraight said the dominant cargo hubs are and will remain Moscow’s airports, St. Petersburg, Krasnoyarsk and Novosibirsk.
      As for what companies should keep in mind that want to move to the Russian market: “They should be in Russia with their own offices, not through agents. Take the challenge and do it,” Wraight said.
      “Like any developing market, India, China, South America, it has challenges. Those that get in now will be the winners.”
      He also cautions that the Russian market will be dominated by imports for years, and that the entry of European and U.S.-based carriers will severely harm Russian carriers if they are not prepared to compete on the international scene.
      Wraight was named chairman of the board of Cargoitalia on September 1.
      Wraight said upon the announcement of the new post: "I look forward to working with (Cargoitalia), to improve and expand the network and take Cargoitalia to the next stage in its development. We will be talking with various potential strategic partners in the coming months to ensure the targets we have set for ourselves, and that commitment we are making to our clients are fulfilled."
George Frey