newstodate.aero
Aug 15, 2013 (newstodate): Low-cost flights are slowly entering the Russian market, but so far primarily through western carriers.
Starting from March 18, 2013, easyJet is offering flights on its new route between London Gatwick and Moscow Domodedovo Airport, offering two daily rotations using Airbus A320 aircraft.
The carrier is now preparing the launch of flights on the first route to Russia from Manchester Airport, planning for four weekly rotations between Manchester and Moscow Domodedovo Airport with Airbus A319 aircraft.
From September 2013, the Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air will also launch flights between Moscow and Budapest, Hungary.
Now Aeroflot is mulling plans for setting up a low-cost subsidiary to operate from Moscow Domodedovo Airport, aiming at launch of operations from 2014 with routes from Moscow to St Petersburg and cities in southern Russia.
According to media sources, Aeroflot will later add international low-cost operations to destinations including Kiev, Yerevan, Istanbul and Barcelona with a fleet eventually growing to some 40 Boeing 737 aircraft.
Earlier Russian attempts to set up low-cost services have failed, including SkyExpress and Avianova, both out of business in 2011.
Strict regulations and rigid enforcement of bureaucratic measures have so far hindered the development of low-cost flights in Russia.
Another factor working against the introduction of Russian low-cost operations is the issue of wages: Russian pilots earn wages approximately twice the level of their average western colleagues.
Starting from March 18, 2013, easyJet is offering flights on its new route between London Gatwick and Moscow Domodedovo Airport, offering two daily rotations using Airbus A320 aircraft.
The carrier is now preparing the launch of flights on the first route to Russia from Manchester Airport, planning for four weekly rotations between Manchester and Moscow Domodedovo Airport with Airbus A319 aircraft.
From September 2013, the Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air will also launch flights between Moscow and Budapest, Hungary.
Now Aeroflot is mulling plans for setting up a low-cost subsidiary to operate from Moscow Domodedovo Airport, aiming at launch of operations from 2014 with routes from Moscow to St Petersburg and cities in southern Russia.
According to media sources, Aeroflot will later add international low-cost operations to destinations including Kiev, Yerevan, Istanbul and Barcelona with a fleet eventually growing to some 40 Boeing 737 aircraft.
Earlier Russian attempts to set up low-cost services have failed, including SkyExpress and Avianova, both out of business in 2011.
Strict regulations and rigid enforcement of bureaucratic measures have so far hindered the development of low-cost flights in Russia.
Another factor working against the introduction of Russian low-cost operations is the issue of wages: Russian pilots earn wages approximately twice the level of their average western colleagues.