UTair Russia cuts its fleet by 44 aircraft

UTair Aviation (Russia) (Moscow) is the third largest airline in Russia. On March 29, 2015 the carrier transitioned to its spring and summer flight schedule and also downsized its fleet. During this period, UTair plans to operate over 200 daily flights, connecting more than 70 cities in Russia and abroad.

However according to The Moscow Times, UTair is cutting its fleet by 40 percent (44 aircraft) from 115 aircraft to 71 aircraft.

The airline blamed the decline on the fall in air travel demand and the sharp increase in leasing rates due to the decline of the Russian ruble.

According to its website, the airline currently operates:

The airline currently operates:

Boeing 767-300 2
Boeing 767-200 3
Boeing 737-800 12
Boeing 737-400 6
Boeing 737-500 30
ATR 72-500 15
Bombardier CRJ200 1
Antonov An-2 6
Antonov An-74 – TK-100 5

+ helicopters

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On the schedules side, the airline stated it will operate nonstop flights to Anapa, Sochi and Krasnodar from Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Tyumen, Surgut, Nizhnevartovsk, Noyabrsk and Syktyvkar.

UTair aircraft will also connect Gelendzhik with Moscow and Surgut; Sochi with Tambov and Kursk; Anapa with Khanty-Mansiysk and Kursk; Mineralnye Vody with Surgut, Tyumen and Samara and Krasnodar with Novy Urengoy.

Passengers living in other regions of Russia will be able to travel to Sochi, Krasnodar, Anapa, Gelendzhik and Mineralnye Vody via convenient connecting flights in Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow. Flight frequency on these routes will be increased to three or four flights daily. The airline will also increase the number of daily flights from Moscow to Kaliningrad, Rostov-on-Don, Makhachkala, Vladikavkaz, Belgorod and Kiev, providing passengers with even more convenient connection options.

UTair will continue performing flights from Saint Petersburg to Moscow, Noyabrsk, Khanty-Mansiysk and Vladikavkaz as well as add new destinations – Makhachkala, Grozny and Magas. From Surgut, UTair will continue flights to Belgorod, Makhachkala, Grozny, Rostov-on-Don and Samara.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. The new Airbus A321 fleet appears to be the main victim of the downsizing. Airbus A321-211 VP-BPC (msn 5919) is pictured at Antalya in Turkey.