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Small airlines. The most reliable airlines in the world and Russia

The history of Russian aviation dates back more than a hundred years. During this time, many airlines, both public and private, were created. In Russia, there are both budget airlines, the so-called low-cost airlines, and carriers that perform regular and cargo transportation.

The pioneer in civil transportation is the Deruluft air carrier, it was an airline for the transportation of passengers, cargo, and mail. The company was founded in 1921. The company made its first flight to Koenigsberg, and later to Berlin. This is the very first official civil aviation carrier in Russia. Then there were many more new airlines. The list of them was great. Later, the first major state-owned air carrier, Aeroflot, appeared in the USSR, which still makes many international flights today.

At the present time, it is already difficult to imagine a better, faster and more reliable mode of transportation than aviation. This is not the cheapest, but the most popular way for travel, business trips and cargo transportation.

To date, the register of airlines in the Russian Federation includes more than 100 carriers. Some are over 50 years old. It is difficult to answer unambiguously which airline is better in Russia, each travel lover has his own. However, ratings compiled among Russian carriers can help you make the right choice.

Aeroflot is the leader in transportation.

Major Russian airlines

List of airlines by number of passengers carried

In 2017, the number of passengers carried by Russian carriers exceeded 100 million people a year. This number is almost 20% higher than last year.

Rating Russian airlines headed by Aeroflot. If we take into account all the subsidiary airlines, such as Pobeda, Rossiya, Aurora, then together they transported a little more than 50 million people. This is almost half of all passenger air transportation in the country.

Airlines of "Russia", the list of which is extensive, are presented by the number of passengers transported according to the Federal Air Transport Agency.

  • Aeroflot. 33 million passengers were transported in a year.

The increase in passenger traffic amounted to 13.3%.

The airline is based at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. It was founded in 1923, and is one of the oldest not only in the Russian Federation, but also in the world. Has a 4-star award from the well-known company Skytrax. Part of the SkyTeam alliance. It has at its disposal a fleet of 233 aircraft, most of which are Airbuses A320 and A321.

  • "Russia". 11.1 million people per year.

The increase in the number of passengers carried was more than 37% compared to the previous year.

It is a subsidiary carrier of the Aeroflot group of companies. Started its activity in 1992. Based at St. Petersburg Pulkovo Airport and Moscow Vnukovo. The fleet size is 64 aircraft, the majority being Airbus A319s. The average age of the fleet is 13 years. The cost of the air ticket is in the middle price segment.

  • S7 Airlines. 9.9 million people transported

The number of passengers carried increased by 4.6% over 12 months.

A private Russian company-carrier, the airline's aircraft made its first flight in 1992. The base is located in Novosibirsk, flies from Tolmachevo airport. In total, it has 89 aircraft at its disposal, the most common being the Boeing 737 and Embraer E 170. The average age of the fleet is 10 years. Since 2010, it has been a member of the Oneworld alliance.

The increase in passenger traffic amounted to 24%.

Since 1993, it has been producing regular, charter flights. The representative office is located in Yekaterinburg, the main hub is Koltsovo Airport. It owns 45 aircraft, half of which are Airbus A320s. It is not a member of any of the alliances, but has a large number of agreements with various global airlines.

  • UTair. 7.3 million people per year.

The company increased the number of transported people by 10%.

Part of the UTair group, it has at its disposal a fleet of aircraft and helicopters for the transport of passengers and cargo. Started operations in 1991. Office in Surgut, the main hub is located at Vnukovo Airport, Moscow. The fleet consists of 65 aircraft and 151 helicopters. Operates flights to 64 destinations. The fleet is based on Boeing 737s and Mi helicopters of various modifications.

  • "Victory". 4.6 million people per year.

The number of transported people increased by 7%.

Founded in 2014, the Russian airline is based at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport. It was created to replace Dobrolet, which fell under sanctions due to flights to Simferopol. It owns 18 vessels operating voyages to 25 destinations. The entire fleet consists of Boeing 737s, in modification 800. Not included in alliances.

Air carrier Pobeda. Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

  • "Globe". 4.3 million passengers for 12 months.

Passenger traffic increased by 18.5%.

The company belongs to the S7 group. Date of commencement of work - 2008. The headquarters is located in the city of Ob, the main hub is Domodedovo Airport. It has 19 Boeing 737 aircraft at its disposal. It flies to more than 20 destinations.

  • Azura Air. 3.7 million passengers were transported during the last 12 months.

The growth in the number of clients amounted to 59.9%.

The airline cooperates with the tour operator Anex and transports passengers for tourism purposes. For the first time, the carrier's aircraft took to the skies in 2014. Owns a park of 21 units. Most of them are Boeing 757 models. In 2015, the company broke away from UTair and now operates independently.

  • Nord Wind Air. 3.5 million people

The growth in passenger traffic is 98%.

The most progressive in terms of transportation most people airline, growth was almost 100%, compared with the previous year. It was created in 2008. The aircraft fleet is 24 units. Based at Sheremetyevo Airport. The average age of the fleet is 9 years.

  • VIM-Avia. Carried 2.1 million passengers per year.

Increase in the number of customers by 3%.

The launch of the carrier took place in 2003. Based at Domodedovo Airport. It has 20 ships at its disposal, most of which are Boeing 777s.

"Airbus A319" company "VIM-Avia".

  • "Yamal". 1.7 million people

Increase in the number of passengers by 23%.

Founded in 1997, the airline is located in Salekhard. It has at its disposal 32 aircraft flying to 42 destinations. The fleet consists mainly of Sukhoi Superjet 100 and Bombardier CRJ200. Aircraft are 11 years old on average.

  • Red Wings. 1.6 million passengers

The influx of traffic by 75%.

The airline was founded in 1999. Located at the Domodedovo airport. The aircraft fleet includes 14 aircraft. The main ones are Airbus A319 and A320. Average fleet age - 11.5 years. He also owns Russian-made Tu-204 aircraft.

  • "Aurora". 1.5 million people

Increase in the number of people by 12%.

Part of the Aeroflot group. Established in 2013. Based in Vladivostok and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, it operates flights mainly to Asian countries. The fleet includes 24 vehicles, mainly Airbus A319. The average age of aircraft is 12 years.

  • Royal flight. 1.5 million people

The influx of the number of people is 50%.

Located in Moscow, established in 1992. The company operates mainly charter flights to popular tourist cities. The fleet consists of 11 aircraft.

  • nordstar. Carried 1.4 million passengers.

Air traffic growth increased by 9%.

A subsidiary of the Norilsk Nickel Group was founded in 2008. Located in Moscow, operates flights from Domodedovo Airport. Owns 15 aircraft, most of which are Boeing 737s.

The best airlines in Russia in terms of quality of service

Aeroflot occupies the top position in the list in terms of a large number of indicators, including the quality of service, among Russian airlines. The company owns four stars out of five possible. Next on the list are S7 Airlines, Russia and UTair. There are no special claims to the quality of these carriers, it is at a good level.

The safest airlines in Russia 2018

Based on the results of the research, a safety rating of airlines was compiled.

The main criteria used to evaluate were the number of accidents and catastrophes, the general state of the aircraft fleet and compliance with European security standards. Research was conducted among the world's largest carriers. Based on the results, points were awarded, the closer to zero - the safer it is to fly with your chosen carrier. The list includes four Russian airlines.

  • Ural Airlines took the highest place among those represented in the Russian Federation. They received a rating of 0.24 points;
  • S7 took the second position due to the high age of the aircraft fleet, basically the aircraft are already approaching the age of 20;
  • Aeroflot scored 0.38 points and took the third position among Russian carriers. A few disasters in the 90s spoiled the reputation of the company a little;
  • UTair took the fourth position in the list.

Rating of state air carriers in Russia

To the list of state aviation companies Russian Federation includes Aeroflot and its subsidiaries: Pobeda, Rossiya, Aurora. The group of companies ranks first in the overall rating in terms of the number of passengers carried. Aeroflot received a four-star award from Skytrax for service quality, service on board and at airports.

Aeroflot office in London on Piccadilly Street.

List of top charter airlines

  • Travelers speak best of the charter carrier called I-Fly. Although it has a fleet of only four aircraft, the quality of service and punctuality are especially noted;
  • Royal Flight has also been rated by customers as the right choice for their travels. The wide geography of flights is especially pleasing, it is almost 40 destinations around the world. Works closely with tour operator Coral Travel;
  • Azur Air working with tour operator Anex. It has more than 20 aircraft and a wide geography of flights around the world.

The vast number of airlines in Russia allows you to travel almost anywhere the globe for any purpose, from business trips to tourist flights to the most famous places. There are offers on the market for every wallet. Low-cost carriers are gaining popularity as they allow traveling on a low budget. Passenger traffic is growing every year, which gives an incentive to carriers to develop both in terms of expanding the fleet and geography of flights, and in improving the quality of service. Russian aviation companies rank high on safety lists and quality of service ratings.

Air travel has become an integral part of everyday life for many people. Business trips to different parts of the country and abroad are always associated with the purchase of air tickets, during which everyone tries not only to find a favorable price offer, but also to fly with a reliable air carrier.

Especially for you, we have compiled a list of Russian airlines in 2020, ranking them according to the degree of reliability and accident-free operation in accordance with the research of the German agency Jacdec, the European organization EASA and the international organizations IOSA and ICAO.

When calculating the index aviation security data on disasters over the past 30 years are taken into account, as well as passenger traffic, the number of victims and lost airliners.

When compiling the list, we also took into account the level of service on board and the average age of Russian airlines. The rating statistics by the number of liners and their average age is based on March 2016 data.

Rating of Russian airlines in terms of flight reliability and safety 2020

  1. Aeroflot
  2. Russia
  3. Ural Airlines
  4. UTair
  5. Orenburg Airlines
  6. Red Wings

Aeroflot

The first place in the rating by all indicators is rightfully occupied by Aeroflot, the largest air carrier in the Russian Federation, which has the largest fleet in Europe. This is the only domestic company that appears in the prestigious Jacdec rating, which means that it is considered by foreign experts to be more reliable than others in Russia. In addition, Aeroflot has repeatedly received the honorary title of the best airline in Eastern Europe.

The advantages of the company are different models planes for every taste, well-trained staff, well-thought-out bonus programs and our own Situation Center, created to quickly solve problem situations. Aeroflot includes Rossiya, Transaero and Pobeda airlines.

  • Year of foundation - 1923.
  • Aircraft in the fleet: 170 units.
  • Average age of airliners: 4.5 years.

Before the rebranding, the company was named "Siberia". If we consider reliability, then S7 is among the top three recognized leaders in this indicator. In 2015, this well-known air carrier received an award from National Geographic as the best Russian airline, and ranks 95th in the S7 world ranking.


A significant advantage of the company is profitable bonus program, thanks to which regular passengers can accumulate bonuses and subsequently spend them on paying part of the cost of tickets. A feature of S7 is convenient direct flights to Asia.

  • Year of foundation - 1957.
  • Aircraft in the fleet: 58 units.
  • Average age of airliners: 10 years.

In 2015, Rossiya Airlines entered the TOP-10 air carriers of our country in terms of flight safety. In 2014, Rossiya was recognized as the best in the field of regional routes, and in 2014 it became the fifth largest domestic airline. In terms of punctuality, Rossiya was included in the rating of top European companies.

The main advantage of Rossiya is its democratic price policy and impeccable cleanliness on board. Passengers are dissatisfied only with airliners, whose age in most cases exceeds 10 years.

  • Year of foundation - 1992.
  • Aircraft in the fleet: 23 units.
  • Average age of airliners: 13.6 years.

Ural Airlines

The planes of one of the largest domestic air transportation companies in 2014 were recognized as the most reliable, and the air carrier itself received three awards at once, including as the best on domestic routes.

If we consider the volume of passenger traffic in Russia, Ural Airlines takes an honorable third place. A distinctive feature of the airline is the availability of a special training room for pilots, which has analogues only abroad.

  • Year of foundation - 1993.
  • Aircraft in the fleet: 35 units.
  • Average age of airliners: 12.7 years.

This company is in the TOP-5 in Russia in terms of passenger traffic. In 2014, UTair received a prestigious award as the best passenger carrier on regional routes.

  • Year of foundation - 1991.
  • Aircraft in the fleet: 66 units.
  • Average age of airliners: 14.5 years.

The main sphere of presence of this air carrier is the Tyumen region and the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The fact that the aircraft used by the company are recognized as safe and reliable reflects the certificate of the International Air Transport Association, which Yamal received in 2013. A year later, the carrier was recognized as the best airline in the field of passenger transportation and the best helicopter operator.

The advantages of the Yamal company are flights to hard-to-reach settlements and regular expansion of the route network. Passengers are dissatisfied with the lack of punctuality of pilots.

  • Year of foundation - 1997.
  • Aircraft in the fleet: 24 units.
  • Average age of airliners: 14.1 years.

Orenburg Airlines

This air carrier is a subsidiary of the Russian Aeroflot. In 2013, Orenburg Airlines received national recognition by being awarded the Airline of the Year award according to passengers.

  • Year of foundation - 1992.
  • Aircraft in the fleet: 19 units.
  • Average age of airliners: 11 years.

The only aviation company in the Russian Federation that operates domestic Tu-204 and Sukhoi Superjet 100 airliners.

  • Year of foundation - 1999.
  • Aircraft in the park: 13 units.
  • Average age of airliners: 6.6 years.

So, now you know the best Russian airlines in 2020, which made it to our list due to their excellent level of service, an impressive volume of passenger air transportation, a large number of safe technically sound modern aircraft, punctuality and favorable price offers. When looking for a reliable air carrier, try to choose from these companies in order to be sure of the safety and comfort of your upcoming flight.

In connection with the increasing reports of aircraft crashes, especially low-cost airlines, many are seriously concerned about flight safety issues. Air transport is generally considered one of the most safe ways movement. To dispel fears and speculation, you can trust trusted carriers. The most reliable airlines in the world are included in the respective ratings.

The issue of safe flights is carefully studied not only by ordinary passengers, but also by major statistical agencies. The most authoritative airline reliability ratings are held by the German company Jacdec and the European Aviation Safety Agency, which publish lists of safe carriers based on research. When calculating the coefficients, the parameters for the past thirty years are taken into account. Other major international aviation organizations are also involved in safety auditing.

The calculation is made taking into account various indices with different specific weights. Thus, a recent accident will carry more weight than a catastrophe that occurred many years ago. The following parameters are taken into account when calculating:

  1. The total number of passengers served.
  2. The total number of victims of disasters.
  3. The number of ships destroyed or lost.
  4. number of breakdowns and emergency landings runway exit, etc.
  5. Rating of the state-owner of the company: thoroughness and transparency of incident investigations.

The longer an airline operates without incident, the higher its position in the ranking. The safety index obtained as a result of calculations should be as small as possible, which will indicate the reliability of the company. Carriers with a high index are therefore less safe.

The safest airlines in the world

Cathay Pacific Airways topped the rankings for the second year in a row, according to various agencies.

For many years of its work, the company from Hong Kong has been a leader in the list of reliable carriers. In 30 years, the only incidents were a hard landing at an airport and two terrorist act in airplanes. The airline safety index is 0.006.

The second position is occupied by Emirates with a safety index of 0.007. Over the years of activity, only two incidents have been associated with this company, in which passengers were not injured. The airlines cooperate with S7, operate regular and charter flights from many Russian cities.

In third place is the company Eva Air, located in Taiwan. There were no serious incidents in its activities, with the exception of a runway departure, a false report of a mined vessel and an emergency landing due to feeling unwell one of the passengers. The safety index of Eva Air is 0.008. This airline does not operate within Russia.

Safe airlines in Russia

Not all internationally recognized airlines operate in Russia. This, however, does not mean that there are no carriers in our country, the reliability of which should not be feared. A number of Russian enterprises have a safety index that does not exceed acceptable standards. Consider which airline in Russia is the most reliable.

In addition to the above parameters, the calculations take into account the punctuality of the carrier, the age and general technical condition of the vessels and their compliance with international documentation and standards. We list and consider the most reliable airlines in Russia.

According to EASA ratings, Ural Airlines became the leader of Russian air transportation in 2017. Her rating is 0.24 points. The company is characterized by high reliability: for a period of 14 years, it has not had a single incident where there were victims.

The second place today is occupied by S7 Airlines, formerly referred to as "Siberia". Despite the aircraft fleet, which can be up to 20 years old, their technical condition does not cause concern for international commissions. In the early 2000s, the company fell on hard times when about 300 passengers died in crashes. Today, the flights of this carrier are distinguished by reliability and quality.

Aeroflot takes different positions depending on different data. In 2016, it was characterized by a safety index of 0.108 points and was included in the top 60 reliable global carriers, gaining a foothold in 36th place. This is a high figure, exceeding the parameters of many large foreign companies.

According to 2017 data, in Russia it is in third place and receives 0.38 points. In many ways, the assessment was influenced by the disasters that occurred back in the 1990s. Now the company is steadily updating its aircraft fleet and is characterized by reliability and high quality services.

Transaero was also previously included in the list of the top 60 companies in the world, ranking 17th with a rating of 0.024. To date, the airlines have ceased operations.

The Khanty-Mansiysk carrier UTair today is a large popular company whose aircraft fleet consists of young aircraft. It specializes in short regional flights. The latest major airline incident was the crash of a cargo helicopter.

Alternative safety ratings

In addition to the generally accepted safety index scoring systems, there are other company classifications provided by some agencies. So, British researchers study companies based on their punctuality, where one of the lines was occupied by the Russian S7 Airlines.

Skytrax has created a product called Quality Rating. The service is based on monthly calculations of company performance indicators and is constantly updated depending on the data received. The creators of the service emphasize that their calculations are not based on data on disasters, since such incidents may occur through no fault of the airlines.

Under careful analysis here fall the parameters of compliance with safety standards by personnel and the availability of preparatory courses in case of an unforeseen situation. Agency experts visit companies to identify and rank. At the same time, carriers are assigned not marks or indices, but stars.

Five stars were awarded to seven companies, among which there are two enterprises included in the Jacdac and EASA ratings. These are Cathay Pacific Airways and Qatar Airways.

The list also includes Russian airlines. Thus, S7 Airlines and Aeroflot were awarded three stars in the rating, while Russia received two stars.

Probability and causes of disasters

The crash of the FlyDubai vessel in Russia caused quite a big resonance. After the incident, a number of sources claimed that the crash was caused by the neglect of flight safety measures. These data were not confirmed, however, there were no fewer questions for low-cost airlines.

It is worth noting that the rumors about the incompetence of low-cost pilots and outdated equipment are fundamentally wrong. The personnel and equipment of such companies comply with all international requirements, and the difference between such flights and standard flights lies in price and service.

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The Belgian airline Brussels Airlines was founded on March 25, 2007, as a result of the merger of two airlines (SN Brussels Airlines and Virgin Express) owned by SN Airholding. On September 15, 2008, Lufthansa acquires a 45% stake in SN Airholding with the option to buy the remaining 55% starting in 2011. On December 9, 2009, Brussels Airlines becomes an official member of the Star...

Bul Air is a Bulgarian charter airline. It is a subsidiary of Bulgaria Air On charter flights, Bul Air operates its own fleet of Boeing 737-300 aircraft (148 seats in economy class), the impeccable technical condition of which is ensured by Lufthansa Technic Sofia. In the future, the company plans to expand its fleet with Boeing 737-800NG aircraft ( 189 seats in economy class). This aircraft is considered the most...

Bulgaria Air is the national carrier of the Republic of Bulgaria, which operates regular flights from Sofia and Varna to 28 destinations. Thanks to codeshare agreements with KLM, Air France, Brussels Airlines, Czech Airlines, El Al, LOT Polish Airlines, Malev Hungarian Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Austrian Airlines, Alitalia, Air One and Aeroflot, Bulgaria Air customers have access to a route network from ...

Based in Hong Kong, Cathay Pacific Airways was originally founded in Shanghai on September 24, 1946. Cathay Pacific Airways operated its first flight on the Hong Kong-Manila-Shanghai route on its first Douglas DC-3 named "Betsy". A rather interesting fact in the history of Cathay Pacific Airways is that by selling "Betsy" in 1955, 30 years later, Cathay Pacific Airways returned to...

China Airlines was founded on December 16, 1959. China Airlines began its operations with 26 employees and an air fleet of three military aircraft (one Douglas C-54 Skymaster military transport aircraft and two PBY Catalina maritime patrol bombers). In 1961, China Airlines began carrying military supplies to Laos. In 1962, the aviation...

China Eastern Airlines was established from the East China Regional Office of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of the People's Republic of China on June 25, 1988. By January 2010, China Eastern Airlines had an air fleet of 330 large and medium passenger aircraft, as well as 18 general aviation aircraft, which operated flights to 151 destinations. On the this moment, air fleet airline...

China Southern Airlines has been operating at Guangzhou Airport since 1989. Today, China Southern Airlines is the largest carrier in the People's Republic of China, with 1,930 flights every day to 193 destinations in 35 countries. China Southern Airlines is the first airline in the world to use Airbus A380 and Boeing 787 aircraft. So far,...

Cobalt Air ("Cobalt Air") is the youngest air carrier in Europe, whose specialization is the delivery of the resting public to the resorts of Cyprus. The chosen format of work is low-cost. The airline performed its first flight on July 07, 2016. The fleet consists of six aircraft - four Airbus A320s and two A319s. Serves 16 regular destinations....

Copa Airlines was founded in 1947 as the flag carrier of Panama under the name Compania Panamena de Aviacion (COPA). Starting to operate domestic flights connecting three cities on Douglas DC-3 / C47 aircraft, COPA already operated 3 international flights per week in 1996 (the first international line of Copa Airlines Panama - San Jose). Having replenished its air fleet in 1969 with a short-haul ...

The national carrier of the Republic of Croatia, Croatia Airlines was founded on August 7, 1989 under the name Zagal (Zagreb Airlines). Zagal operated flights using Cessna 402 C aircraft in its fleet. After the elections in Croatia on July 23, 1990, Zagal was renamed Croatia Airlines. In 1991, Croatia Airlines leased an aircraft from Adria Airways...

Cyprus Airways, the national airline of the Republic of Cyprus, was founded on September 24, 1947, and on April 18, 1948, Cyprus Airways operated its first flight from Nicosia Airport on a Douglas DC-3 aircraft. Exactly five years later, Cyprus Airways begins to operate international flights (flight Nicosia - Athens). With a fleet of six Airbus A320s at its disposal, Cyprus Airways operates a...

National airline based at Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague Czech Republic Czech Airlines was founded as Czechoslovak State Airlines on October 6, 1923 with 17 A-14s from the state. Czech Airlines performed its first flight by transporting airmail from Prague to Bratislava on October 29, 1923 on an Aero A-14 (Brandenburg) biplane with registration number L-BARC. In 1929, Czech Airways...

Delta Airlines was founded on May 30, 1924 under the name Huff Daland Dusters, which sprayed pesticides in the cotton fields of the US South. On September 13, 1928, Huff Daland Dusters was renamed Delta Air Service and operated its first passenger flight from Dallas to Jackson on June 17, 1929. In 1987, Delta Airlines entered the top five major airlines peace. In 1991, the airline...

The Egyptian airline EgyptAir was established on May 7, 1932. EgyptAir made its first commercial flight in August 1933 with a Spartan Cruiser between Cairo and Alexandria. EgyptAir began to develop rapidly and already in 1935 replenished its fleet with 12 De Havilland aircraft. In 1946, the EgyptAir fleet was replenished with 10 Beechcraft aircraft, and a few years ...

Based in Tel Aviv Airport, the Israeli airline El Al was founded in 1948 as Israel National Airlines. El Al's first flight was in September 1948, during which an El Al aircraft carried Israel's first president from Geneva to military base Tel Nof. In 1950-1956, El Al aircraft were actively used in operations "Magic Carpet" and "Ezra and Nehemiah", in re...

Ellinair is a Greek airline based at Thessaloniki International Airport. The headquarters of the airline is located in Thessaloniki. The airline was established in February 2013. Ellinair's main activity is the operation of seasonal charter flights from Greek resorts Thessaloniki and Kerkyra to the cities of Russia, Ukraine, Latvia and Italy. Since June 15, 2015, Ellinair has been operating regular domestic flights to popular Greek destinations...

Based at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Emirates Airlines is a wholly state-owned company. By leasing two airliners (a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 300 B4), Emirates Airlines began operating commercial flights on October 25, 1985. Three years later, Emirates Airlines reached the level of making a stable profit and began to rapidly develop both the route network, i...

The flag carrier of Ethiopia, Ethiopian Airlines was founded on December 21, 1945 under the name Ethiopian Air Lines. Ethiopian Air Lines performed its first flight on April 8, 1946 (on the route Addis Ababa - Cairo on a former American military aircraft Douglas C-47 Skytrain). With a fleet of five Douglas C-47 Skytrains, Ethiopian Air Lines is starting a weekly re...

Based at Abu Dhabi International Airport, the national airline Etihad Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. Established in July 2003, Etihad Airways operated its first demonstration flight to Al Ain on November 5, 2003, and began scheduled flights to Beirut on November 12. One year after founding, Etihad Airways buys five...

The Chinese private airline EVA Air was founded in March 1989. The history of EVA Air is somewhat different from the typical commercial airline development scenario. As a subsidiary of the transport conglomerate Evergreen Group, EVA Air was originally created to carry both passengers and cargo. Immediately after its founding, the airline did not buy used aircraft and did not take ...

State-controlled, Finnish airline Finnair is the heir of Aero O/Y, one of the oldest airlines in Europe (Aero O/Y was incorporated on September 12, 1923). In 1946, Aero O/Y was bought out by the Finnish government and given its current name, Finnair. There is one in the history of Finnair interesting fact. In 1983, the airspace of the USSR was...

Based at Jakarta's Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, Garuda Indonesia is the flag carrier of Indonesia. Established under the name Garuda Indonesian Airways, the airline, with an air fleet of Douglas DC-3 Dakota and PBY Catalina aircraft, began operating commercial flights as early as 1949 (the flight from Calcutta to Rangoon was operated on January 26, 1949). In the 60s of the last century, Garuda Indonesia...

Germania was founded in 1986 as Germania Fluggesellschaft mbH and headquartered in Cologne. Germania inherited the aircraft operating license from S.A.T. The first aircraft (Boeing 737-300) with the brand name "Germania", Germania puts into operation in 1987 and in ten years brings Number of Boeing 737-300 up to 13 units. In 1991, Germania began operating...

The German airline Germanwings was founded on October 27, 2002 (100% of Germanwings is owned by Deutsche Lufthansa). Airline Germanwings positioned as a low-cost carrier and successfully operates both domestic and international flights to more than 100 destinations (including flights from Moscow and St. Petersburg). As of the end of 2013, having withdrawn Airbus A...

Based at Moscow's Domodedovo Airport, Globus Airlines was established in March 2008. Globus Airlines, a member of the S7 Group of Companies, operates under the S7 Airlines brand. Globus Airlines carries out regular flights within Russia, as well as to the CIS countries and Europe. The air fleet of Globus Airlines consists of 13 Boeing 737 aircraft of various modifications. Since 2011, the airline has been included in the register of I...

Hainan Airlines (Hainan Airlines Co Ltd) is China's largest private carrier. Established in January 1993, Hainan Airlines (originally called Hainan Province Airlines) operated its first flight in the same year. In 1997, Hainan Province Airlines was renamed Hainan Airlines. Hainan Airlines aircraft operate regular domestic and international flights, as well as...

Heli Air Monaco is a helicopter airline based in Monaco. Established in 1976 with the support of Prince Rainier III of Monaco, Heli Air Monaco has carried 747 passengers this year in its single ENSTROM F28 helicopter. Throughout its history, Heli Air Monaco has constantly replenished its helicopter fleet...

The Russian charter airline I Fly (I FLY) received the "Air Operator Certificate" on November 24, 2009. The main activity of the airline I Fly (I FLY) is the transportation of tourists to popular holiday destinations. One of the main directions of the airline I Fly (I FLY) are flights operated from Vnukovo Airport to: Antalya Airport (Turkey); Hurghada Airport (Egypt); Suvarnabhumi airport(Thailand). For flights, airline...

Iberia is the largest airline in Spain. Iberia was founded on June 28, 1927. Iberia made its first flight on December 28, 1927. Today, Iberia is one of the five largest airlines in Europe. With the merger of Iberia, British Airways and Vueling to form the International Airlines Group, Iberia becomes part of the largest...

Icelandair is the national carrier of Iceland. The airline was created in 1937 under the name Flugflag Akureyrar (then it was based in the city of Akureyri). In 1940, the airline was moved to Reykjavik and renamed Flugfelag Islands. In 1973, it merged with Loftleioir to form Flugleioir. And only a few more years later it received its current name - Icelandair. Basic air...

JSC IrAero Airlines is a Russian airline based at the international airport of the city of Irkutsk. It performs regular, charter and cargo transportation in Russia, neighboring countries and China. JSC IrAero Airlines was established in 1999. Since 2006, IrAero has been carrying out passenger transportation and is currently the largest carrier in the region. IrAero's aircraft fleet consists of CRJ-100/200 aircraft (pr...

The Israeli airline Israir Airlines has been operating since 1996. Basically, Israir Airlines specializes in domestic scheduled passenger transportation. In addition, Israir Airlines performs regular, charter international flights and VIP transportation, as well as provides air taxi services. The base airport of Israir Airlines is Tel Aviv Ben-Gurion International Airport, and an additional ...

Japan Airlines (JAL) was founded in 1951. At the moment, Japan Airlines is one of the largest airlines in Japan dealing with passenger and freight transport. On April 1, 2011, Japan Airlines International Co., Ltd. changed its name to Japan Airlines Co., Ltd.. The Japan Airlines fleet has more than 300 modern airliners (mainly Boeing 747s). Over 8.5...

JAT Airways is the state-owned airline of Serbia based in Belgrade, Nikola Tesla Airport. The airline was founded in 1927 under the name Aeroput, and in 1947 it was renamed Jugoslovenski Aerotransport. In the 1980s it was one of the largest airlines in Europe. Today, JAT operates flights to cities in Europe and maintains partnerships with several airlines, including Lufthansa. JAT Airways performs...

The private airline Karthago Airlines was founded in 2001. Despite the fact that the main base of Karthago Airlines is located at Djerba-Zarzis Airport, Karthago Airlines operates most of its flights from Tunis-Carthage International Airport. Karthago Airlines specializes in charter flights between Tunisia and Europe (Copenhagen and Stockholm). Ac...

Kenya Airways was founded as a state-owned enterprise from the liquidated East African Airways in January 1977. In 1986, the privatization process for Kenya Airways began. In 1997, Kenya Airways takes delivery of its first of four Boeing 737-300s for domestic and regional flights and launches the Msafir frequent flyer loyalty program, which is merged with the program.

KLM was founded on September 12, 1919 by military pilot Albert Plezman and has retained its name since then - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (Royal Netherlands Airlines) and the motto: "The ocean of air unites people." Despite its age, KLM has one of the newest and most modern fleets. It consists of 120 airliners of various brands: Airbus A330-200, Airbus A330-300, Boeing 737-700, Boeing ...

South Korean airline Korean Air was founded on March 1, 1969. Seoul-Kimpo International Seoul International Airport is the base airport for Korean Air. In 2007, Korean Air was awarded the prestigious World Airline Awards as Best Airline economy class. The fleet of Korean Air in September 2013 consisted of 147 aircraft (121 airliners for passenger transportation and 26 airliners for...

LAN Airlines was created under the name Línea Aeropostal Santiago-Arica by the Chilean government to operate passenger, cargo and mail air services in 1929. In 1932, Línea Aeropostal Santiago-Arica was changed to Línea Aérea Nacional de Chile (LAN Chile). 60 years after the founding of the airline, the government of Chile sells 51% of the shares of the airline to local investors and Sc...

Lauda Air is an airline based in Vienna, Austria. Operates scheduled, charter and weekend flights to Europe, North Africa, the Caribbean and Southeast Asia. Lauda Air was founded in 1979 by former Formula One champion Niki Lauda and began operating in 1985, initially operating charter and air taxi services. 1989 Lauda Air launched the first long-haul flights...

LOT Polish Airlines is the national airline of Poland. 62.4% of its shares are owned by the Polish government, and the remaining 37.6% by SAir Group. The representative office of the airline is located in Warsaw, as well as its base airport - Warsaw-Okecie. The LOT Polish airline began operations in 1929. But then the Department of Civil Aviation nationalized all private airlines and merged them into one state - Linje Lot ...

One of the oldest airlines in Europe, Lufthansa was registered on January 6, 1926. But it really turned around and became one of the largest air carriers only in the 60s, when it was the first in Europe to start flying on the then most modern Boeing-707. Then the fleet of Lufthansa expanded and it was replenished with new Boeing 727, 737, 747 and economical Airbus A300. To date, the Lufthansa fleet includes...

Malaysia's national state-owned airline, Malaysia Airlines, was founded on October 12, 1937 under the name Malayan Airways Limited. As the national airline, Malayan Airways Limited made its first commercial flight on April 2, 1947. Malaysia Airlines operates scheduled flights to 85 destinations on six continents. The main transit hub for Malaysia Airlines is the International...

The private Italian airline Meridiana was founded to promote tourism in Sardinia by Prince Karim on March 29, 1963 under the name Alisarda. In 1964, Alisarda began operating flights from Olbia Airport on eight local Beechcraft C-45 aircraft and managed to carry 186 passengers in its first year of operation. After acquiring two 26-seater Nord 262s in 1966, Alisarda begins its...

The Metrojet airline appeared on May 1, 2012, as a result of the renaming of the KOLAVIA airline (founded on May 17, 1993), which was engaged in scheduled and charter air transportation. In June 2013, the Metrojet airline, based at Domodedovo Airport, became part of the international travel holding TH&C, which marked the beginning of a new stage in the development of the company. In 2013, Metrojet operated flights from Moscow to St. P...

MIAT Mongolian Airlines is the national airline of Mongolia, with a base airport in Ulaanbaatar "Chinggis Khaan International Airport". The history of MIAT Mongolian Airlines is inextricably linked with the history of the Mongolian Air Force, which begins with a gift in the form of a Junkers Y-13, which the USSR presented to Mongolia on May 25, 1925. More or less regular air transportation of passengers within the country, MIAT Mongolian Airlines began in...

The national flag carrier of Lebanon, Middle East Airlines (MEA) is based at Beirut Rafic Hariri International Airport. Middle East Airlines was formed on May 31, 1945 with the support of BOAC. Middle East Airlines began operations on January 1, 1946, flying from Beirut to Nicosia. Using the airline's three aircraft...

The national airline of the Republic of Montenegro "Montenegro Airlines" was established in September (registration October 24), 1994. The difficult situation in the country did not allow Montenegro Airlines to purchase its first aircraft (a used Fokker 28Mk 4000 called Lovcen) until the autumn of 1996. The airline "Montenegro Airlines" performed its first flight on May 7, 1997 (an international flight to Bari). In July 1998, ...

Niki is Austria's first low-cost airline. The history of Niki begins with the purchase in November 2003 of the German airline Aero Lloyd put up for auction (together with two Airbus 320 and one Airbus 321 aircraft) and the founding of NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH. The main goal of NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH, in addition to organizing charter flights, is to create a new low-cost airline. The airline Ni...

The Russian airline NordStar was established on December 17, 2008 and is a trademark owned by OJSC Taimyr Airlines. NordStar operated its first flight on June 17, 2009 (flight Moscow - Norilsk). At the initial stage of its activity, NordStar Airlines focused on air transportation between Norilsk, Krasnoyarsk and Moscow. By 2013, the route network of NordStar Airlines has increased significantly...

Nordwind Airlines (LLC " North wind") is one of the most dynamically developing airlines in Russia. Established in May 2008, Nordwind Airlines, with only three aircraft, begins to operate charter flights to six resort destinations. In 2013, the route network Nordwind Airlines Airlines already had 97 destinations in 27 countries, while Nordwind Airlines plans for 2013-2014 to...

The Norwegian airline Norwegian (Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA) was founded in 1993. From its inception until 2012, Norwegian Airlines, together with Braathens S.A.F.E. with the help of Fokker F-50 aircraft, she was engaged in air transportation on the west coast of Norway. After the purchase of Braathens S.A.F.E. operated by SAS in 2002, Norwegian commenced scheduled domestic flights with Boei...

Based at Tunis-Carthage International Airport, Nouvelair Tunisia, a private airline, traces its history back to the founding of Air Liberte Tunisie. Established on 6 October 1989 as a subsidiary of the French airline Air Liberte, Air Liberte Tunisie began operating its flights with two leased MD83 aircraft. After Nouvelair Tunisia becomes the majority shareholder of...

The Greek airline Olympic Air is the successor of the national airline Olympic Airways, formed on April 6, 1957. Airlines Olympic Airways was renamed Olympic Air in 2003 and operated by air until September 29, 2009. The new airline Olympic Air, which inherited the logo, property and part of the route network of the former company, performed its first flight on October 1, 2009. Currently based...

Pakistan's national airline, Pakistan International Airlines, has quite unusual story, because was founded on October 23, 1946 (before the partition of British India in 1947) in Calcutta under the name Orient Airways. Having received four Douglas DC-3 aircraft on June 4, 1947, Orient Airways began operating flights on the Calcutta-Sitwe-Yangon route. Since August 14, 1947 (Independence Day of Pakistan), Orient Air...

Pegas Fly (legal name Ikar Airlines LLC) is a Russian airline based at Emelyanovo Airport in Krasnoyarsk and providing scheduled mainline passenger transportation. The airline has a Khabarovsk branch. The airline was founded in 1992 in Magadan. In 2013, the airline was purchased from previous owners and transferred to Krasnoyarsk On April 16, 2013, a permit was obtained to perform international...

The budget airline Pegasus Airlines is the only private airline in Turkey operating flights to domestic and international destinations from Sabiha Gokcen Airport. Pegasus Airlines, a low-cost airline, was founded on December 1, 1989 to carry out tourist and charter flights. Pegasus Airlines made its first flight on April 15, 1990. In 1994, the owner of all shares of Pega...

The Australian airline Qantas is one of the oldest airlines in the world (second only to KLM) surviving to this day. The history of Qantas begins with the formation of Western Queensland Auto Aero Service Limited and its decision on 19 August 1920 to purchase two Avro 504K aircraft at Sydney Airfield. The formal registration of the Qantas airline took place on November 16, 1920 at the Gresham Hotel in Brisbane. Western Quest...

The national carrier of Qatar, Qatar Airways has been one of the fastest growing airlines in the world since 1997. Thanks to a group of companies included in the Qatar Airways Group (Qatar Duty Free, Al Maha Services, Qatar Aircraft Catering Company, Qatar Airways Cargo, Qatar Aviation Services, The Qatar Distribution Company, Internal Media Services, Doha International Airport and Qatar Executive), Qatar Airways in...

Based at Moscow's Vnukovo Airport, Red Wings Airlines was founded in 1999 under the name "Airlines 400". In 2007, Airlines 400 was renamed Red Wings Airlines, and since 2008 has become a full member of the Russian Association of Air Transport Operators. Red Wings Airlines launches year-round charter flights to top destinations...

Royal Flight - ROYAL FLIGHT Airlines JSC is a Russian charter airline operating charter passenger flights. Based at Sheremetyevo Airport. The headquarters is located in Moscow. In 2014, the airline switched to international passenger traffic under the Royal Flight brand. On March 8, 2014, the first flight on the route Moscow - Antalya was performed from Domodedovo Airport. Since May 25, 2015, Roy...

National airline of Jordan Royal Jordanian originally had the name Alia. Alia was founded on December 9, 1963, and began operations a week later. With three aircraft at its disposal, Alia began operating flights to four destinations, linking Amman, Kuwait, Beirut and Cairo. Gradually, Alia increased its air fleet and route map. Its first regular flight to Europe, the airline...

Based at Jeddah International Airport, Saudia is the flag carrier of Saudi Arabia. The history of the Saudia airline began with the fact that after the opening of navigation through the Suez Canal on February 14, 1945, Roosevelt (President of the United States) presented King Aziz with a Douglas DC-3 Dakota (HZ-AAX) aircraft. In the same year, the aircraft began to be used for air transportation of goods and passengers between the cities of Riyadh, ...

The multinational airline Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) was founded on August 1, 1946 as a result of a partnership of three leading airlines (Denmark, Norway and Sweden) with the aim of organizing international flights in Scandinavia. The airline Scandinavian Airlines System performs regular passenger and cargo transportation. In 1954 Scandinavian Airlines System became the first airline...

The Chinese regional airline Shenzhen Airlines was founded (the main shareholders of Air China and Shenzhen International Total Logistics Co, Ltd) in November 1992 with the aim of carrying passengers, cargo and air mail. Shenzhen Airlines began operating on September 17, 1993. From the very beginning of its activity, Shenzhen Airlines has been distinguished by high dynamics of development and quality of services...

Singaporean airline Singapore Airlines was founded in 1972 by splitting the older Malaysia-Singapore Airlines (founded on May 1, 1947 as Malayan Airways Limited) into two new airlines, Singapore Airlines and Malaysian Airline System. Thanks to the concentration of efforts, by 1989, Singapore Airlines had at its disposal not only a developed ground infrastructure and an air fleet consisting of ...

Based at Johannesburg O. R. Tambo International Airport, South African Airways (SAA) was founded on February 1, 1934, after the South African government gained control of the assets and liabilities of Union Airways (from which South African Airways was created which came under the administration of the South African railways and ports). On November 1, 1934, having received its first aircraft...

The airline Swiss Intarnational Air Lines (Swiss) was formed in 2002, after the Lufthansa Aviation Group purchased the bankrupt national carrier of Switzerland, Swissair. Swiss Intarnational Air Lines began its operations on March 31, 2002, and until 2005, it constantly suffered losses. In 2005, Swiss International Air Lines was integrated into the Lufthansa Group as an independent...

Today, many Russians prefer to travel by plane. Of course, tickets for this type of transport are more expensive than, for example, for the same trains, but you can also get to your destination by air much faster. However, of course, people who fly are not the last thing they think about their safety. The list of Russian airlines today is quite wide, and most of them, fortunately, are considered reliable in this regard.

A bit of history

Many people remember that in the days of the USSR, only one company, Aeroflot, carried passengers by air. It was founded in 1921. Initially, it was given the name "Deruluft". In 1923 the company was renamed Dobrolet. The name "Aeroflot" was given to the civil air fleet RSFSR in 1932

New companies

Unfortunately, in the 90s of the last century, the only Russian airline ceased to exist, breaking up into several smaller ones. Today Aeroflot aircrafts are once again plying the airspace of Russia and other countries of the world. However, by now it is far from being the only carrier in our country. includes both giants capable of competing with Aeroflot and small charter firms.

Carrier Security Selection Criteria

Accidents do not happen often, but usually end in a great tragedy with many human casualties. Therefore, the choice of an airline, of course, should be approached with all responsibility. Before buying a ticket for any flight, you should make sure that the carrier is able to ensure the safety of the flight. This can be done very simply.

Since 1999, by order of the Russian Federal Aviation Service, a program for monitoring the safety of civil transportation has been operating in our country. Within its framework, each ship flying in airspace Russia, whether foreign or domestic, can be checked for compliance with security standards at any airport in the country. Based on the inspections carried out, a safety rating of carrier companies is compiled. After reviewing it, you can decide, among other things, whether it is worth using the services of a particular company.

The largest Russian carriers

What giants does the list of Russian airlines include? The rating of safe carriers will be presented to the reader's attention a little lower. The list of the largest domestic airlines in terms of the number of passengers carried and size is as follows:

    Aeroflot. This carrier, although no longer the only one, currently tops the list of Russian airlines with the largest fleet. The latter currently consists of 106 modern machines. This company is owned by the state.

    S7-Airlines (Siberia). This company is currently the leader in domestic transportation. This carrier has 42 aircraft in its fleet. The company operates flights on 80 routes, while only 26 of them are foreign.

    "Russia". This company is also owned by the state. Most of its flights are carried out by its aircraft to the countries of the former CIS and the Far East. However, Rossiya aircraft also fly to European countries. The fleet of this carrier has 30 aircraft.

    Utair. This company also owns 30 machines. Its main feature is the presence, including a helicopter fleet. This carrier takes 4th and 5th places in the rating at the same time.

This list can also be supplemented by the carrier OrenAir (Orenburg and Orsk). This company is mainly engaged in charter flights. It has 29 aircraft in its fleet.

Rating of the safest airlines in Russia

Below, in descending order, we present you a list of Russian airlines that are considered (according to the rating of the Federal Air Transport Agency in 2015) the safest:

    Ural Airlines. Although this company was not included in the list of the 7 largest, today it tops the ranking of the most secure. During the entire existence of this carrier, there have been only 3 incidents with aircraft. And they all escaped without casualties.

    S7 Airlines. On the account of this carrier since opening 3 major accidents. In 2001, the Tu-154 aircraft of the Siberia company was shot down by Ukrainians over the Black Sea. In this case, 178 people died. Another accident occurred with the "Tu-154" brand S7 Airlines (51 people). The next crash killed 125 passengers (A310). To date, this carrier is considered one of the most reliable in terms of security in Europe.

    Aeroflot. This company has four disasters. The most famous took place in 1994. The pilot put his 15-year-old son at the helm. Out of ignorance, the teenager pressed one of their levers, as a result of which the autopilot turned off. It was not possible to level the plane, and he went into a dive. 75 people died in this accident.

The list of Russian airlines in terms of safety can, of course, be continued. In principle, control over compliance with regulations by legal entities engaged in air transportation, today is carried out quite seriously. However, the companies listed above are currently considered the best in terms of security.

Rating of companies with the oldest aircraft

The average age of the fleet in the Russian Federation in 2016 is 12 years. The list of Russian airlines with the oldest aircraft looks like this:

    "Kagalymavia" - 17.1 years.

    "Northern Wind" - 14 years.

    "Nord-Avia" - 14.

    "Yamal" - 13.7 years.

    Ural Airlines - 12.3 years.

    "UTair" - 11.7.

    Orenburg Airlines - 10.8.

    "Siberia" - 9.6.

    "Red Wings" - 6.6.

    Aeroflot - 4.4.

Are any companies banned from flying to Europe?

Some passengers would certainly like to know if there are such Russian air carriers that are not allowed to fly to EU countries. After all, these states have certain safety standards and specific requirements for the technical condition of aircraft. At the same time, “black lists” of companies are regularly compiled that are prohibited from flying in European airspace.

At the beginning of the new millennium, some Russian carriers really had to abandon flights to Europe. The list of banned Russian airlines included, among other things, such a giant as Ural Airlines (partially). The flights of old aircraft of Kuban Airlines, Airlines 400 and some others were also banned. However, these were not EU sanctions. The ban came from Rostransnadzor and the Federal Air Transport Agency. At the moment, the vessels of all Russian companies can fly to Europe.