AEROFLOT HAS revealed plans to relaunch its recently grounded low-cost subsidiary Dobrolet (see Airliner World, October 2014). The carrier, which was the sole operator of flights between Moscow and Simferopol in the newly annexed Crimean peninsula, suspended operations at midnight on August 4 after it was placed on the EU blacklist. This formed part of a wider package of sanctions imposed by the EU on Russia for its continuing support of Ukrainian separatists and its alleged role in the loss of Malaysian Airlines flight MH17. According to Aeroflot CEO Vitaly Savelyev, Dobrolet is expected to undergo a major overhaul – believed to include a change of name – ahead of its re-launch and will initially fly to Ufa, Samara Kurumoch, Perm, and Volgograd. It was not immediately clear if it will resume flights to the disputed Crimea.
Dobrolet’s fleet of two Boeing 737-800s is currently flying with sister company Orenair. A third example, VQ-BTI (c/n 39948), which was due for delivery imminently, has been placed into temporary storage with the manufacturer. The carrier has, however, reiterated its intention to acquire up to 16 Boeing jets over the next three years.
UTair Aviation's Boeing 737-8LP, VQ-BRQ (c/n 41710), is pictured at Boeing Field on September 6 and is one of several Russia-bound aircraft currently in storage pending the lifting of US and EU sanctions.
(JOE G WALKER)