Category Archives: Aeroflot Russian Airlines

Aeroflot introduces a new low-fare airline: Dobrolet

Aeroflot Group (Aeroflot Russian Airlines) (Moscow) now includes a budget airline named Dobrolet (2nd). Originally, it was the name of the joint-stock company established in 1923, a predecessor of today’s Aeroflot.

Dobrolet will be based in the Moscow region. The fleet of the new airline will consist of Boeing 737-800 aircraft in an one class configuration. It is assumed that the low-cost carrier will start operating in spring of 2014. At the initial stage the airline will fly to the most popular destinations in the European part of Russia.

According to the airline group, “The reduction of transportation costs up to 40 percent compared to the “traditional” carriers will be achieved in several ways. Among them are: the increase of the number of seats in the cabin of an aircraft by reducing the pitch between the seats and fixed backrests; only direct ticket sales; an additional payment for a comfort seat, checked baggage, priority boarding, and meals on board; a possibility to book and sell additional services online at the company’s web site.

The Aeroflot Group will own 100 percent of the shares in the new company. An estimated investment in the project will be around $100 million over the first two years. The airline will operate 8 aircraft in the year of the launch; the annual fleet growth is planned as an average of 8 aircraft per year. Vladimir Gorbunov is appointed the Director General of the new Dobrolet.

Aeroflot Russian Airlines:

Aeroflot is set become a Boeing 737 operator once again

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) is on the verge this month of taking delivery of its first new Boeing 737-800. This will be the return of the Boeing 737 type to the Aeroflot fleet. The Russian carrier operated the 737-400 in 1998. Aeroflot will join a growing list of airlines operating both the Airbus A320 Family of aircraft and the Boeing 737 Next Generation Family of aircraft.

Aeroflot intends to eventually operate 65 Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft through Russian Technologies including 25 Boeing 737-800s with Winglets as well as the 737-700 and 737-900 ER.

Copyright Photo: Joe G. Walker/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Boeing 737-8LJ VP-BRF (msn 41195) at Boeing Field in Seattle will be the first and is named S. Obraztsov.

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Manchester United picks Aeroflot as its official carrier

Manchester United has today announced a five-year partnership with Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow). Aeroflot will become the Club’s Official Carrier.

According to the announcement by the football (soccer) club, “this partnership marks the Club’s first commercial venture in Russia – an expanding market it is keen to explore further and where it has close to 18 million followers.”

Announced at a ceremony at United’s Old Trafford stadium today, Aeroflot’s CEO Vitaly Saveliev and Manchester United’s Group Managing Director, Richard Arnold were joined by team manager, David Moyes and the first team squad, to celebrate the partnership.

As the Official Carrier of Manchester United, Aeroflot will provide the English Premier League champions with strategic advice on travel for the team and club representatives.

Aeroflot has 137 planes and one of the youngest fleets in Europe, with an average age of five to six years and in 2012, the Group provided an outstanding travel experience to its 27.5 million passengers. Each of its luxury aircraft features comfortable seating as well as award-winning on-board menus designed by Michelin-starred chefs. As a member of SkyTeam global airline alliance, Aeroflot and its partners provide services to more than 1000 destinations in 178 countries and offer the shortest route between Europe and Asia, via Moscow.

Aeroflot is celebrating its 90th anniversary this year.

According to the club, “Manchester United is one of the most popular and successful sports teams in the world, playing one of the most popular spectator sports on Earth. Through our 135-year heritage we have won 61 trophies, enabling us to develop the world’s leading sports brand and a global community of 659 million followers. Our large, passionate community provides Manchester United with a worldwide platform to generate significant revenue from multiple sources, including sponsorship, merchandising, product licensing, new media and mobile, broadcasting and match day.”

Will there be a Manchester United logojet flown by Aeroflot?

Aeroflot:

Aeroflot considers dropping out of SkyTeam because of Delta

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) according to Reuters, citing a report in Kommersant, is considering leaving the SkyTeam alliance in the future. According to the report, the flag carrier is not happy with its development of routes in the United States due to the “high fares” charged by Delta Air Lines.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: OSDU/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A330-343X VQ-BCQ (msn 1058) in the SkyTeam motif arrives at the Moscow (Sheremetyevo) hub.

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Aeroflot conducts a Twitter contest to name its new Far Eastern Airline, reopens the route to Toronto

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) is using Twitter to name its new Far Eastern Airline. The company issued this statement:

Aeroflot is calling for its passengers to take part in choosing the name for its new Far Eastern Airline.

At the first stage, Twitter users are welcome to send their proposals of a new regional airline name to Aeroflot official account www.twitter.com/aeroflot with #AFLVostok hashtag until June 25, 2013.

The winning name will be chosen through an Internet vote from a list of Twitter leading proposals and some variants provided by our consultants.

It will be the first time in the history of the Russian civil aviation, when the name of a company is invented with the help of passengers.

The airline on June 2, 2013 relaunched the Moscow-Toronto (Pearson) route from Sheremetyevo Airport Terminal D.

Toronto Pearson International Airport greeted the first Aeroflot flight with a traditional water salute followed by an impressive welcome ceremony.

Aeroflot will provide services to Toronto with Boeing 767-300s on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays in accordance with the following schedule:

SU 114 flight leaves Moscow at 10:25 and arrives to Toronto at 12:25 (local time).

SU 115 flight leaves Toronto at 14:00 and lands in Moscow at 07:20 (local time).

On the same date, Aeroflot launched a regular Moscow-Yakutsk-Moscow flight from Sheremetyevo Airport Terminal D. The Yakutsk services will also be flown on Boeing 767-300s.

In other news, the company is considering the grounding and replacement of its three McDonnell Douglas MD-11F freighters due to the mounting operational and maintenance costs according to ch-Aviation.

Top Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com (all others by Aeroflot). Boeing 767-306 ER VP-BWX (msn 27960) prepares to land at Dulles International Airport near Washington.

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Aeroflot puts its Airbus A320 1956 retrojet into revenue service

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) has put its newly-delivered Airbus A320-214 VP-BNT (msn 5614) into revenue service. The flag carrier issued this statement:

The only air plane in a retro livery in Russia has joined the Aeroflot fleet celebrating the 90th Anniversary of the national flag carrier.

In late 2012 Aeroflot organized a voting in social networks to choose the best livery for its retro-jet. More than 2500 people participated in the voting process, and the livery of one of the first world’s jet airliners — Tupolev Tu-104 (appeared in 1956) was declared a winner. In the opinion of the majority of voters was this livery carried the spirit of the “romantic” 1950s, the time when the air transport industry in the country was rapidly growing and significant achievements were made in the national air construction.

The final draft of the livery to be painted on the newest Airbus A320 was designed in accordance with the voters’ comments, taking into account safety standards and recommendations from Airbus and Akzo Nobel specialists considering the paint spraying and its technical and performance parameters.

The retrojet is named “DOBROLET” after the Open Joint Stock Company found on March 17, 1923, which was the predecessor of Aeroflot. The newcomer to the Aeroflot fleet is to demonstrate the vast historical inheritance of the air company and to attract interest of the public to the long and rich history of Aeroflot.

Gaining from the synergy of prominent heritage and modern innovative development, the Russian national flag carrier, one of the oldest air companies in the world, operates one of the youngest air fleets in Europe. Currently there are 137 aircraft in Aeroflot including 87 Airbus A319/320/321 family planes.

All Airbus aircraft are received by Aeroflot directly from Airbus manufacturing plants. The airplanes are designed in two class composition and can carry 116 (A319), 140 and 158 (A320) and 170 (A321) passengers. These aircraft provide services on European and Russian domestic destinations. Airbus A320 family airplanes satisfy the highest reliability, safety and comfort standards and are one of the best for mid-range flights.

Top Copyright Photo: Aeroflot. Airbus A320-214 VP-BNT (msn 5614) is seen at the Moscow (Sheremetyevo) base. VP-BNT was handed over on May 29.

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Bottom Copyright Photo: Eurospot/AirlinersGallery.com. The airframe was tested at Toulouse as F-WWIF.

Historic Photo of the Day – May 24, 2013

Aeroflot Russian Airlines Boeing 777-2Q8 ER VP-BAS (msn 27607) LAX (Roy Lock). Image: 912236.

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Aeroflot gets ready to introduce its 1956 retrojet to celebrate its 90th Anniversary

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) as we first reported on November 19, 2012, is getting ready to introduce this 1956 retrojet.

Aeroflot issued this statement back in November:

On November 12, 2012 the open Internet voting for Aeroflot new aircraft retro livery was finished. Celebrating the company’s 90th Anniversary, an airplane in a heritage livery will join the Aeroflot fleet in 2013.

In the middle of this summer Aeroflot addressed to its passengers through social networks, asking about their vision of expected Aeroflot jubilee events. As a result, more than 45 per cent of our flyers wished to see one of the national carrier’s aircraft in a retro livery.

So, the voting in Aeroflot official Facebook group had begun. There were four candidates representing four different types of painting historically worn by Aeroflot airplanes. More than 2500 passengers participated in the voting process, and the livery of one of the first world’s jet airliners – Tupolev Tu-104 (appeared in 1956) was declared a winner.

During the voting Aeroflot received from its passengers a lot of useful recommendations and remarks, which will allow updating and improving of the color scheme of the livery.

One of the brand new A320 aircraft to make part of Aeroflot fleet in the first middle of 2013 will wear a retro livery. The painting itself will be made at the Airbus manufacturing plant.

Copyright Photo: Eurospot. The pictured brand-new Airbus A320-214 has been painted in a modified 1956 almost-retro livery. Still carrying the test registration of F-WWIF, the airframe will be delivered as VP-BNT (msn 5614). The airliner is pictured at Toulouse today.

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Aeroflot’s net profit for 2012 slips to $158.6 million

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) reported net income for 12 months ending on December 31, 2012 totaled 4.939 billion rubles ($158.6 million), which is 5.544 billion rubles ($178 million) (-52.9 per cent) less compared to its results for 2011. The lower net income in 2012 was justified by the carrier mainly due to the consolidation of its subsidiaries.

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Aeroflot to combine Vladivostok Air and SAT Airlines under a new company called Far Eastern Airline (DVA)

Aeroflot Russian Airlines (Moscow) has transferred its controlling 52.156 percent of the shares of Vladivostok Air (Vladivostok Avia) (Vladivostok) (a member of the Aeroflot Group of companies) to SAT Airlines (Sakhalin Airlines) (Sakhalin) (a 100 percent subsidiary of Aeroflot). This move was made following the decision of Aeroflot’s Board of Directors concerning the creation of Far Eastern Airline (DVA) within the Aeroflot Group.

According to Aeroflot, “the new member in Aeroflot Group of companies will satisfy the growing demand for regional flights offering the highest service standards in one of the most impressively developing regions of the country — Russia’s Far East.”

Aeroflot continues, “the creation of Far Eastern Airline (DVA) will contribute significantly to the social-economic development of this vast region with a powerful economic potential and will let Aeroflot Group become one of the leading air carriers in Asia-Pacific.

The establishment of Far Eastern Airline (DVA) is one of the key elements of Aeroflot Group strategy aimed at the creation of a large aviation holding which will successfully compete with the leaders of the global civil aviation.”

Vladivostok Air is the largest air carrier in Russia’s Far East, carrying about 1,100,000 passengers annually on its own fleet of planes. The airline flies to 24 domestic and 13 international destinations.

Aeroflot recently celebrated its 90th anniversary of its creation as a state airline. Aeroflot is one of the world’s oldest airlines, founded on March 17, 1923 as Dobrolet. Operations commenced on July 15, 1923 from Moscow to Nizhniy Novgorod. The company adopted its current name Aeroflot on March 25, 1932.

Read the full report from Pravda: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl. Vladivostok Air’ Airbus A330-301 VQ-BEU (msn 055) arrives at Antalya.

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Bottom Copyright Photo: Michael B. Ing. SAT Airlines’ (Sakhalin Airlines) Boeing 737-232 RA-73005 (msn 23100) completes its final approach at Beijing.