Dobrolet (2nd) (Moscow-Sheremetyevo), Aeroflot’s wholly owned low-cost carrier subsidiary, has completed its first commercial flight from Moscow to Simferopol.

Aeroflot issued this statement:

A ceremony to mark the maiden flight on June 10 at Sheremetyevo International Airport, Aeroflot’s international hub in Moscow, was attended by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, senior executives from Russia’s transport industry and Aeroflot’s top management.

The new carrier was named in honor of a predecessor of today’s Aeroflot – JSC Dobrolet.

According to the carrier, “the low-cost model is based on maintaining tight control of costs, particularly on some elements of service. As a result, Dobrolet’s transportation costs are 20%-30% lower than classical established carriers, and may be further reduced in future.”

Simferopol, Crimea is Dobrolet’s first key destination, with four daily flights to the Crimean city contributing to the transport integration of Crimea with other regions of Russia.

In August, Dobrolet will launch flights to St Petersburg and Samara. The route network will subsequently expand to other Russian regions, and from 2016 Dobrolet plans to fly to international destinations, primarily in Europe and the CIS.

The new airline’s fleet will consist of new Boeing 737-800s in one-class configuration designed to carry 189 passengers. By the end of 2014 Dobrolet will operate eight aircraft.

Dobrolet plans to increase its fleet to 40 aircraft by 2018, operating 45 routes and carrying more than 10 million passengers.