Mon, Feb 05, 2007
Completes Inaugural Flight From Moscow To Sochi
ANN has learned Russia's
newest airline, discount-carrier Sky Express, successfully
completed its inaugural flight, delivering 91 passengers to the
Black Sea resort of Sochi from Moscow's Vnukovo airport on January
29.
A release on the company's website says the flight was preceded
by ceremonies marking its start-up. Guests of honor included
shareholders and partners of the company, who attended especially
to congratulate Sky Express, attend the traditional cutting of the
red ribbon and express best wishes for the company’s
success.
During the ceremony, company representatives handed the
airline's first passenger a gift certificate for four
free-of-charge flights and other prizes from the Vnukovo Airport
Authority.
Sky Express bills itself as a no-frills airline -- Russia's
first and only discount carrier -- with plans to revolutionize
Russia's airline industry. Operating only Boeing 737 aircraft, Sky
Express fares start at $19 dollars with customers given the option
to pay extra for additional services such as meals.
Sky Express appeared on Russia's internal commercial aviation
scene last year, but other players only started taking it seriously
after it announced a $10 million investment by the European Bank
For Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) -- a 20 percent stake in
the fledgling airline. Another key investor -- with unspecified
holdings -- is Boris Abramovich, director general of Russia's
third-largest carrier Krasnoyarsk Airlines.
EBRD told Italian paper Portalino it will increase its
investment in Sky Express to $20 million.
The airline took delivery of its first Boeing 737-300 November
12, 2006. The jet is nicely appointed with leather passenger seats,
and a decorations created by Russian designer Yulia Rozhkova.
Sky Express has ambitious plans to carry as many as 3.5 million
passengers by the end of next year. It says it will nab seven
percent of Russia's domestic market in the short term, with a
long-term goal of 25 percent.
More News
From 2023 (YouTube Version): Legacy of a Titan Robert (Bob) Anderson Hoover was a fighter pilot, test pilot, flight instructor, and air show superstar. More so, Bob Hoover was an i>[...]
Get The Latest in Aviation News NOW on Instagram Are you on Instagram yet? It's been around for a few years, quietly picking up traction mostly thanks to everybody's new obsession >[...]
Aero Linx: B-52H Stratofortress The B-52H Stratofortress is a long-range, heavy bomber that can perform a variety of missions. The bomber is capable of flying at high subsonic spee>[...]
Altimeter Setting The barometric pressure reading used to adjust a pressure altimeter for variations in existing atmospheric pressure or to the standard altimeter setting (29.92).>[...]
"Knowing that we play an active part in bettering people's lives is extremely rewarding. My team and I are very thankful for the opportunity to be here and to help in any way we ca>[...]