RUSSIA: Flydubai B737 Plane Halted After Attempted Take Off Without Clearance From Air Traffic Control

Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport makes the headlines again. In what could be called a severe misstep by flydubai’s pilots, on December 2, 2018, the airline’s Boeing 737-800 attempted take off without clearance from the air traffic control (ATC).

The plane was halted to avoid a possible ground collision with another incoming aircraft.

Air traffic controllers had to instruct the Dubai-bound Boeing 737-800 (registration A6-FEQ), which had not received clearance, to abort its take off roll from runway 06R at Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) as another arriving aircraft, an Aeroflot Airbus A330 (registration VQ-BBF), was crossing the runway at the same time.

The separation between the two planes at that point was about 2,050 meters (6,725 ft).

According to the airline, the 737, which was cleared for take-off, returned to stand for refueling and de-icing prior to proceeding to take-off for the second time in line with standard procedures and in coordination with ATC.

The jetliner eventually departed from Sheremetyevo at 08:57 local time, making it a delay of a total of 3 hours and 12 minutes.

Flydubai is aware of media reports regarding flydubai flight FZ918 from Sheremetyevo to Dubai on 02 December.

Clarification has been requested from the necessary authorities and there is an ongoing investigation, spokesperson for flydubai stated.

Russia is an important market for state-owned UAE carrier. Having started flights to Russia in 2010, Flydubai launched daily services from Sheremetyevo to Dubai International Airport (DXB) in November 2017, in addition to its service from Moscow‘s Vnukovo International Airport (VKO).

Now, Dubai is one of the key international destinations served from Sheremetyevo, the airline states.


Tourism Observer

RUSSIA: Aeroflot Resumes Moscow To Cairo Flights, After October 2015 Bombing Over Sinai Peninsula Killing 224 On Board

Aeroflot resumed regular flights from Moscow to Cairo on April 11.

Aeroflot’s Airbus A320 aircraft will serve the route thrice per week, departing and arriving from Sheremetyevo International Airport’s (SVO) Terminal F.

Even though air service between Russia and Egypt has been interrupted for such a long time, the load factor on upcoming flights is more than 85%, Aeroflot says.

Aeroflot says that it has booked nearly 3,750 seats from SVO–CAI and over 3,700 CAI–SVO from now until the end of the Summer.

Flight SU 400 – Departs from SVO at 20:50 to arrive in CAI at 00:25. Frequency: it will be operated weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays.

Flight SU 401 – Departs from SVO at 01:25 to arrive in CAI at 06:50. Frequency: it will be operated weekly on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

From June 12 until July 2, Aeroflot will fly daily between both cities due to the increased demand for air transportation while Summer comes to an end.

In October 2015, the bombing of a Russian airliner over Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula killed 224 people onboard. As a result, Moscow suspended all operations to Egypt.

Russia stopped flights to Cairo lasting more than two years.

This has adversely affected Egyptian tourism, which is heavily dependent on Russian travelers.

In December 2017, Russian and Egyptian officials signed a security cooperation protocol in order to restart services.

Since the attack, claimed by the extremist Islamic State group, the northeast African country guarantees it has acquired monitoring cameras, modern baggage-scanning equipment, finger-print security gates, among other features.

Aeroflot serves 1,074 destinations along with its partners in 177 countries across the world and it manages one of the youngest fleets in the world with 232 aircraft, consisting of 76 Airbus A320-200, 38 A321-200, five A330-200, 17 A330-300, 38 Boeing 737-800, 16 Boeing 777-300ER, and 42 Sukhoi Superjet 100-95.

Aeroflot is expecting another 100 aircraft, including six Airbus A320-200, four A321-200, 14 A350-900, 12 Boeing 737-800, six 777-300ER, eight Sukhoi Superjet 100-95 and 50 brand new Irkut MC-21-300.

Last year, the Russian airline handled a total of 32.8 million passengers. 50.1 million passengers as Aeroflot Group including its subsidiaries.


Tourism Observer

RUSSIA: Nordwind Airlines Leasing Two Boeing 777-300ER Widebody Airliners

Russian carrier Nordwind Airlines is leasing two Boeing 777-300ER widebody airliners from Dubai-based lessor DAE Capital (part of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise). The aircraft were previously operated by EVA Air of Taiwan.

To implement its feeder strategy, which covers 200 destinations, in the coming fall-winter season, Nordwind Airlines continues to expand its widebody fleet and is preparing to put two Boeing 777-300s into operation.

The first of the two aircraft arrived at the airline’s home base Sheremetyevo on August 31.

Following the requisite customs procedures, in early September the airliner will start performing charter flights from Moscow.

The carrier will receive the second aircraft next week.

The two Boeings, to be registered as VP-BJL and VP-BJO, were built in 2005.

They will become the first airliners in Nordwind’s fleet to have a three-class cabin layout,312 seats in total: 38 in business, 63 in premium economy, and 211 in coach.

Nordwind already operates four Boeing 777-200s, which seat 393 passengers in two classes.

The new addition will bring the carrier’s total fleet up to 22 aircraft.

It also has Airbus A330-200s, A321s, and additional four airframes are expected to be delivered by year-end.

Nordwind’s passenger traffic grew 85.4% year-on-year in January-July 2017, reaching 1.598 million; its seat load factor droped by 2.9 percentage points to 86.9%.

Nordwind Airlines is a Russian scheduled and charter airline.

The company is headquartered in Moscow, with its main hub at Sheremetyevo International Airport.

Nordwind Airlines primarily operates service between airports in Russia and holiday destinations around the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Nordwind Airlines was founded in August 2008 by the Russian and Turkish branches of tour operator Pegas Touristik, initially operating 3 Boeing 757-200 aircraft to/from 6 cities.

Since then, the fleet has been greatly expanded, including the introduction of the Airbus A321 and the Boeing 767-300.

By 2015, Nordwind operated service to/from 33 cities.

In 2017, the company expanded its fleet with 2 A330s.

The number of passengers transported was as follows:

Year Passengers
2008 20,000
2009 555,000
2010 1.2 million
2011 1.7 million
2012 2.2 million
2013 3.4 million
2014 4.4 million


Nordwind operates service to Europe, Middle East and Africa,South America and Asia.



Tourism Observer

RUSSIA: Vladivostok International Airport For Grabs

The consortium comprising the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), Singapore’s Changi Airports International (CAI) and Russia’s Basic Element, has signed the agreement to acquire shares in Vladivostok International Airport in Russia’s Far East from Sheremetyevo International Airport.

Upon regulatory and corporate approvals, the consortium will own 100% of JSC Terminal Vladivostok which owns and operates the airport terminal building, and 52.16% of JSC International Airport Vladivostok which holds the airport license. RDIF, CAI and Basic Element, each hold an equal interest of 33.3%.

Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the RDIF, said, “We have been working diligently and have finalised all the conditions for the prompt closing of the transaction and the development of the airport of Vladivostok as a key transportation hub in the region. The consortium has already started work to expand the airport’s international route network and attract new airlines from China. We see opportunities for further effective work in unlocking the potential of one of the leading airports in the Far East of Russia.”

Oleg Deripaska, Chairman of Supervisory Board Basic Element, said, “We are happy to cooperate with the Russian Direct Investment Fund and Changi Airports International on the development of one of the key airports in Russia and a strategic hub linking Russia and Asia. Thanks to Changi, our long-time partners, Basic Element has done a lot for the development of the airports in Krasnodar region.

Our successful experience will also expand to Vladivostok airport. Together with our partners in the consortium, we will create a high-tech aviation facility that delivers safety and comfort to its passengers and adheres to the highest quality standards in aircraft handling which eventually will unlock Far East’s rich economic potential.”

Lim Liang Song, CEO of CAI, said, “Vladivostok is the largest economy in the Russian Far East, and is strategically placed to be the gateway between Russia and the Asia-Pacific. Together with our partners, RDIF and Basic Element, we will develop Vladivostok International Airport as one of the best air hubs in the region with strong air connectivity and top-class service — two of our priority areas. We will showcase the uniqueness and vibrancy of Vladivostok and Russian Far East to the rest of the world through the airport, and open up this region to the vast opportunities in international trade and tourism.”

Vladivostok International Airport is strategically located at the crossing of air routes between Russia’s Far East and the Asia-Pacific. With its geographical advantage and the Open Skies policy introduced in 2011, the airport will be positioned as a major air hub for domestic and international traffic.

The consortium will focus on expanding the airport’s route network, increasing flight frequencies, and improving its service offerings through quality training to meet the demands of business and leisure travelers.

Mikhail Vasilenko, CEO of Sheremetyevo International Airport, said, “Vladivostok International Airport has shown a high standard of work during the 2012 APEC Summit and other high-profile events in the Far East of Russia. The airport continues to increase its annual passenger traffic and route network, and improve its quality of service.

I am confident that the new owners of the airport will further stimulate its development, in the interest of the Far East and the Russian aviation industry.”

Vladivostok International Airport currently has the capacity to handle 3.5 million passenger per annum and to receive all aircraft types.

RUSSIA: Sheremetyevo International Airport Opens Souvenir Shop Selling "Guns"

Gunmaker Kalashnikov, whose AK-47 assault rifle has armed Russian forces for 70 years and been the preferred weapon of insurgents across continents, has opened a store at Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport selling souvenirs including plastic model guns.

An airport official said the shop, offering novelties including pens, umbrellas, bags, hats, camouflage gear and "I love AK" T-shirts, would be situated in the rail-link section of the airport complex.

The model guns - automatic pistols and rifles - would very clearly be imitations and would pose no security problems, he added.

"Kalashnikov is one of the most popular brands that come to mind for most people in the world when they hear about Russia," Kalashnikov's head of marketing, Vladimir Dmitriev, said.

"So, we are pleased to provide the opportunity for everyone to take away from Russia a souvenir with our company brand."

The AK-47, the first rifle the firm produced, has acquired an iconic status due to its low production costs and reliability in extreme conditions.

It was introduced in 1948, armed the whole of the Soviet Union and eastern Europe in communist times and served largely pro-Soviet rebel forces across Africa and Asia.

Produced also under license beyond Russian frontiers, it remains one of the most popular assault rifles in the world.

Sheremetyevo International Airport is Moscow's and Russia's largest airport by passenger traffic. In 2015, it handled more than 31 million passengers.