Mon, Feb 05, 2007
Completes Inaugural Flight From Moscow To Sochi
ANN has learned Russia's
newest airline, discount-carrier Sky Express, successfully
completed its inaugural flight, delivering 91 passengers to the
Black Sea resort of Sochi from Moscow's Vnukovo airport on January
29.
A release on the company's website says the flight was preceded
by ceremonies marking its start-up. Guests of honor included
shareholders and partners of the company, who attended especially
to congratulate Sky Express, attend the traditional cutting of the
red ribbon and express best wishes for the company’s
success.
During the ceremony, company representatives handed the
airline's first passenger a gift certificate for four
free-of-charge flights and other prizes from the Vnukovo Airport
Authority.
Sky Express bills itself as a no-frills airline -- Russia's
first and only discount carrier -- with plans to revolutionize
Russia's airline industry. Operating only Boeing 737 aircraft, Sky
Express fares start at $19 dollars with customers given the option
to pay extra for additional services such as meals.
Sky Express appeared on Russia's internal commercial aviation
scene last year, but other players only started taking it seriously
after it announced a $10 million investment by the European Bank
For Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) -- a 20 percent stake in
the fledgling airline. Another key investor -- with unspecified
holdings -- is Boris Abramovich, director general of Russia's
third-largest carrier Krasnoyarsk Airlines.
EBRD told Italian paper Portalino it will increase its
investment in Sky Express to $20 million.
The airline took delivery of its first Boeing 737-300 November
12, 2006. The jet is nicely appointed with leather passenger seats,
and a decorations created by Russian designer Yulia Rozhkova.
Sky Express has ambitious plans to carry as many as 3.5 million
passengers by the end of next year. It says it will nab seven
percent of Russia's domestic market in the short term, with a
long-term goal of 25 percent.
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