OAO Kuban Airlines (Russian: ОАО «Авиакомпания Кубань») was an airline based in Krasnodar, Russia.[2] It operated domestic flights within Russia, as well as international charters. Its main base was Krasnodar International Airport. Its name comes from Kuban Province in southern Russia.[3] On 11 December 2012 Kuban Airlines ceased operations due to financial difficulties.[4]

Kuban Airlines
Авиакомпания Кубань
IATA ICAO Callsign
GW KIL AIR KUBAN
Founded1992
Ceased operations2012
Operating bases
Fleet size7
Destinations17
HeadquartersKrasnodar, Krasnodar Krai, Russia
Key peopleSergey Mordvintsev (MD) [1]
Websitewww.kuban.aero

History edit

 
A Kuban Airlines Boeing 737-300 landing at Vnukovo International Airport, Russia. (2011)

Kuban Airlines was founded as a division of Aeroflot in 1932. It became an independent company in 1992, owned by the state (51%) and the airline employees (49%).[3]

In February 2010, Kuban Airlines introduced a new livery to its first Boeing 737-300 aircraft. The new livery was a dark green background with sunflowers running from the back half of the fuselage and up the tail. The engines were also coloured in dark green.[5]

On 18 May 2010, Kuban Airlines announced the receipt of their first of four ordered Boeing 737-300s. The airline also announced that beginning in 2011 their Yakolev aircraft were to be retired and replaced by new Antonov An-148 or Boeing 737-700 aircraft.[6]

Merger with Sky Express edit

In September 2011, it was announced that Russian low-cost carrier Sky Express was to be merged into Kuban Airlines. On 29 October 2011, the two airlines merged, bringing Airbus A319 and Boeing 737 aircraft into the Kuban Airlines fleet.[7]

Fleet edit

 
A Kuban Airlines Yakovlev Yak-42D landing at Domodedovo International Airport, Russia. (2003)

The Kuban Airlines fleet consisted of the following aircraft in November 2012:[3][8][9]

Kuban Airlines Fleet
Aircraft In Fleet Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Airbus A319-100 3 0 0 156 156 Charter
Boeing 737-300 2 0 12 112 124
Boeing 737-500 2 0
Sukhoi Superjet 100 12 TBA Was planned to enter service in 2012[10]

Previously operated edit

Prior to November 2012, the airline has also operated:[11]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Kuban Airlines – Management of the company
  2. ^ Home page Archived 2012-07-10 at archive.today. Kuban Airlines. Retrieved on 23 June 2010. "350912, Россия, г. Краснодар, ул. Е.Бершанской, 355"
  3. ^ a b c "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 103.
  4. ^ Borodina, Polina (10 December 2012). "Russia's Kuban Airlines to cease operations". ATWOnline.com. Retrieved 11 December 2012.
  5. ^ Kuban Airlines new livery
  6. ^ 18 May 2010 Kuban Airlines news[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ Russia’s first LCC, Sky Express, will lose AOC
  8. ^ "Авиабилеты онлайн — поиск рейсов, бронирование и покупка билетов на самолёт в агентстве Агент.ру".
  9. ^ Kuban Airlines Fleet (Boeing only) – CH-Aviation
  10. ^ "GSS and "Kuban" signed an agreement for the supply of 12 SSJ" (in Russian). AviaPort. 2011-08-19.
  11. ^ Flight International, 3–9 October 2006

External links edit