Azimuth (airline)

{{Infobox airline

| airline = Azimuth
АЗИМУТ

| logo = Azimuth_Airlines_Logo.png

| logo_size = 150

| image = 250px

| caption = Azimuth Sukhoi Superjet 100-95

| fleet_size = 20

| destinations = 43{{cite web|title=Flight Map|url=https://azimuth.aero/en/about/flight-map|website=azimuth.aero|access-date=2018-10-19}}

| IATA = A4

| ICAO = AZO

| callsign = AZIMUTH

| parent =

| company_slogan =

| founded = February 2017

| headquarters = Rostov-on-Don, Russia

| key_people =

Vitaliy Vantsev{{cite news|title=Vnukovo co-owner to launch a regional airline|url=http://www.rusaviainsider.com/vnukovo-co-owner-to-launch-a-regional-airline/|access-date=3 September 2017 |newspaper=rusaviainsider.com|date=17 October 2016}} (co-founder)
{{nowrap|Pavel Yekzhanov (CEO)}}

| hubs =

| secondary_hubs =

| focus_cities =

| frequent_flyer =

| lounge =

| alliance =

| website = [https://azimuth.aero/en azimuth.aero]

| aoc =

| num_employees =

| bases = *Platov International Airport

{{nowrap|Krasnodar International Airport}}

}}

Azimuth ({{langx|ru|АО «АЗИМУТ»|translit=|link=no}}, branding itself as azimuth) is a Russian joint-stock company airline operating since 2017 based in Platov International Airport in Rostov-on-Don, the capital of Rostov Oblast. It is currently banned from flying in EU airspace{{Cite web |title=The EU Air Safety List - European Commission |url=https://transport.ec.europa.eu/transport-themes/eu-air-safety-list_en |access-date=2025-02-07 |website=transport.ec.europa.eu |language=en}}

History

Due to the merger of Donavia with Rossiya Airlines in 2016, Rostov-on-Don lost its main airline, even though Rossiya continued the flights previously operated by Donavia. As Rostov-on-Don was selected as one of the host cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, there was a perceived need for another airline to provide quality flights to connect the cities of Southern Russia and Central Russia.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aif.ru/dontknows/actual/zachem_sozdayut_aviakompaniyu_azimut|title=Зачем создают авиакомпанию "Азимут"?|website=www.aif.ru|date=9 October 2016 |access-date=2018-07-19}} Azimuth registered itself as a legal entity in Krasnodar, but re-registered itself in Rostov-on-Don in February 2017, with shareholders being co-owner of Vnukovo International Airport Vitaly Vantsev, Pavel Udod and Pavel Yekzhanov.{{Cite web|url=http://rostov.dk.ru/news/aviakompaniya-azimut-pereehala-v-rostov-na-donu-237072918|title=Авиакомпания "Азимут" переехала в Ростов-на-Дону|last=Неведров|first=Роман|website=rostov.dk.ru|date=10 March 2017 |language=ru|access-date=2018-07-19}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.vedomosti.ru/business/articles/2016/10/14/660907-vnukovo-vantsev-aviaperevozkami|title=Совладелец "Внуково" Виталий Ванцев займется авиаперевозками|last=Ведомости|date=2016-10-14|access-date=2018-07-19}}

In March 2017, contracts were signed for the delivery of four Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) regional jets. Another contract was signed for the delivery of four more SSJ100s. The delivery of the aircraft began in July 2017, with the airline receiving its first SSJ100 on 7 July through the State Transport Leasing Company (GTLK).{{Cite news|url=https://www.kommersant.ru/doc/3347849|title=Sukhoi Superjet 100 долетел до "Азимута"|date=2017-07-07|work=Коммерсантъ|access-date=2018-07-19}} The airline plans to further increase the fleet to 16 aircraft.{{Cite news|url=http://www.ato.ru/content/aviakompaniya-azimut-dogovorilas-o-rasshirenii-parka-do-16-ssj-100|title=Авиакомпания "Азимут" договорилась о расширении парка до 16 SSJ 100|date=2017-07-20|work=Авиатранспортное обозрение|access-date=2018-07-19|language=ru}} On 18 August 2017, the airline received an air operator's certificate (AOC) from the Russian government giving the airline permission to commence flight operations.{{Cite web|url=https://azimuth.aero/news/aviakompaniya-azimut-poluchila-sertifikat-ekspluatanta|title=Авиакомпания Азимут получила сертификат эксплуатанта|website=azimuth.aero|language=ru|access-date=2018-07-19}}{{cite news|url=http://atwonline.com/airlines/russia-s-azimuth-airline-receives-aoc/|title=Russia's Azimuth Airline receives AOC|date=22 August 2017|newspaper=atwonline|access-date=3 September 2017}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.aex.ru/docs/2/2017/8/9/2644/|title=Удод Павел Викторович: "Азимут" - креативная классика с "южной изюминкой"|access-date=2018-07-19}}

Domestic routes to Kaliningrad, Chelyabinsk, Volgograd, Astrakhan, Surgut and Gelendzhik, as well as international routes to Yerevan, Prague, Frankfurt, Istanbul and Tel Aviv were planned to enter Azimuth's route network by 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aksayland.ru/city/news/23628/|title=Состоялась встреча главы администрации Аксайского района с руководителем авиакомпании "Азимут"|website=www.aksayland.ru|language=ru|access-date=2018-07-19|archive-date=2018-07-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719083955/https://www.aksayland.ru/city/news/23628/|url-status=dead}}{{update after|2024|11|26}}

On 7 December 2017, Azimuth officially shifted all flights from Rostov-on-Don Airport to Platov International Airport.{{Cite web|url=https://azimuth.aero/ru/news/aviakompaniya-azimut-perehodit-v-platov|title=Авиакомпания Азимут переходит в "Платов"|website=azimuth.aero|language=ru|access-date=2018-07-19}}{{Cite web|url=https://azimuth.aero/ru/news/aviakompaniya-azimut-prodolzhaet-vypolnyat-polety-iz-deystvuyushchego-aeroporta-rostova-na-donu|title=Авиакомпания Азимут продолжает выполнять полеты из действующего аэропорта Ростова-на-Дону|website=azimuth.aero|language=ru|access-date=2018-07-19}}

Azimuth officially started international flights on 29 September 2018 when by offering weekly flights to Bishkek. Two days later, Azimuth had its first flight to Yerevan, with a schedule offering three flights each week.

The airline, which obtained its Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) in August 2017, is exempt from the requirement that Russian airlines must demonstrate at least two years’ of successful domestic operations before being allowed to perform international services. This is because the requirement does not apply to countries of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), of which Armenia and Kyrgyzstan are a part.{{Cite news|url=http://www.rusaviainsider.com/russias-azimuth-airlines-launches-international-services/|title=Russia's Azimuth Airlines launches international services|date=2018-10-17|work=Russian Aviation Insider|access-date=2018-10-19|language=en-US}}

{{Cite web|url=http://dojki.xxx/|title=Dojki|website=dojki.xxx|access-date=2023-02-15|archive-date=2022-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005233556/https://dojki.xxx/|url-status=dead}}

In December 2019, after more than two years of successful domestic and CIS operations, Azimuth started its first international flights outside the CIS, with flights to Tel Aviv begun 1 December and Munich starting 22 December.{{Cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/287078/azimuth-adds-munich-tel-aviv-service-in-dec-2019/|title=Azimuth adds Munich / Tel Aviv service in Dec 2019|website=Routesonline|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-14}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rusaviainsider.com/russias-azimuth-airlines-develop-network-beyond-cis/|title=Russia's Azimuth Airlines to develop its network beyond the CIS|last=ES|date=2019-10-10|website=Russian Aviation Insider|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-14}} In the same month, Azimuth reached its operational break-even point, citing government subsidies and high dispatch reliability to be main contributing factors of its success.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rusaviainsider.com/all-superjet-100-start-up-azimuth-airlines-reaches-operational-breakeven/|title=All-Superjet 100 start-up Azimuth Airlines reaches operational breakeven|last=Insider|first=Russian Aviation|date=2019-12-18|website=Russian Aviation Insider|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-20}}

In 2020, Azimuth began regular flights to Crimea.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Azimuth announced that it was planning to purchase the larger Airbus A220-300 with a seating maximum of 149 passengers.{{cite web|url=https://tourism.interfax.ru/ru/news/articles/78413/|title=Авиакомпания "Азимут" планирует приобрести шесть Airbus для международных полетов|newspaper=Tourism Interfax|date=29 April 2021}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rusaviainsider.com/russias-superjet-100-operator-eyes-airbus-a220-300/|title=Russia's all-Superjet 100 operator eyes the Airbus A220-300|last=ES|date=2019-09-26|website=Russian Aviation Insider|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-26}} On 29 April 2021, the airline confirmed Airbus orders, for usage on international routes. As of October 2022, the order had been removed by Airbus.[https://www.airbus.com/sites/g/files/jlcbta136/files/2022-09/ODs-August-2022-Airbus-Commercial-Aircraft.xlsx airbus.com] retrieved 3 October 2022 The already produced and fitted aircraft were allocated to the Italian flag carrier ITA Airways instead,[https://www.aero.de/news-43672/ITA-Airways-erhaelt-ersten-Airbus-A220.html aero.de] (German) 12 October 2022 following extensive economic sanctions on Russia following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Corporate affairs and identity

Azimuth is headquartered in Rostov-on-Don, Rostov Oblast.{{Cite web|url=https://azimuth.aero/en/about/contacts|title=Office|website=azimuth.aero|access-date=2019-12-14}} Shareholders of the airline include Vitaliy Vantsev, who owns Vnukovo International Airport and Pavel Udod, former owner of Yakutia Airlines.{{Cite web|url=http://www.rusaviainsider.com/russias-azimuth-airlines-receive-four-ssj-100s/|title=Russia's Azimuth Airlines to receive four SSJ 100s - Russian aviation news|last=Insider|first=Russian Aviation|date=2017-04-04|website=Russian Aviation Insider|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-14}} As of April 2017, Azimuth's CEO position is held by Pavel Yekzhanov. Azimuth's logo and livery was designed by Asgard Branding based in St. Petersburg. According to the designers, the logo symbolizes the sun, the sea, the sky and southern hospitality.{{Cite web|url=http://aviation21.ru/superdzhety-ak-azimut-lakonichno-yarko-i-emocionalno/|title=Суперджеты а/к "Азимут" — лаконично, ярко и эмоционально {{!}} Авиация России|website=aviation21.ru|date=4 November 2017 |language=ru-RU|access-date=2018-07-19}}

Destinations

As of December 2019, Azimuth Airlines operated flights to 30 domestic destinations and three international destinations.{{Cite web|url=https://azimuth.aero/en/about/flight-map|title=Flight map|website=azimuth.aero|language=ru|access-date=2018-11-16}}

= Interline agreements =

Hahn Airhttps://www.hahnair.com/en/partner-carriers

Accidents

On 24 November 2024, an Azimuth Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft caught fire after landing at Antalya Airport in Turkey. The aircraft was carrying 89 passengers and six crew from Sochi to Antalya, Turkey. All passengers and crew were safely evacuated using the emergency slides following the fire which had started in one of the engines. The aircraft was substantially damaged. No description of recent aircraft maintenance nor how that may have been affected by sanctions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine was included in initial reports.[https://news.sky.com/story/russian-plane-catches-fire-after-landing-in-turkey-but-passengers-and-crew-safely-evacuated-13260330 Russian plane catches fire after landing in Turkey but passengers and crew safely evacuated], Sky News, 25 November 2024.[https://people.com/passengers-escape-burning-plane-emergency-slides-engine-catches-fire-turkey-8751135 95 People Dramatically Escape Burning Plane on Emergency Slides After Engine Catches Fire], People, 25 November 2024.{{Cite web |date=2024-11-25 |title=Russian plane catches fire after landing in Turkey but passengers and crew are safely evacuated |url=https://apnews.com/article/russian-plane-engine-fire-turkey-antalya-airport-6902c0c034a39eee746955b6ae08b4d8 |access-date=2024-11-25 |work=Associated Press}}

Fleet

File:RA-89080 SU95(LR) Azimuth VKO UUWW (37742561274).jpg]]

As of January 2024, Azimuth operates the following aircraft:{{Cite web|url=http://www.rusaviainsider.com/azimuth-airlines-superjet-100-fleet-grows-11/|title=Azimuth Airlines' all-Superjet 100 fleet grows to 11|last=Insider|first=Russian Aviation|date=2019-12-09|website=Russian Aviation Insider|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-11}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.rusaviainsider.com/russia-azimuth-airlines-reaffirms-faith-superjet/|title=Russia's Azimuth Airlines reaffirms its faith in the Superjet|date=28 August 2019|work=Russian Aviation Insider|language=en-US}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto;text-align:center"
Aircraft !In service !Orders !Passengers !Notes
Sukhoi Superjet 100 \|20 \|— \|103 \|One in M-1 Global livery{{cite news\|url=http://www.ato.ru/content/azimut-poluchila-posledniy-samolet-ssj-100?slink=frs&pos=1\|title="Азимут" получила последний самолет SSJ 100\|date=19 April 2018\|work=ato.ru}}{{Cite web\|url=http://www.rusaviainsider.com/ninth-superjet-100-added-azimuth-airlines/\|title=A ninth Superjet 100 is added to Azimuth Airlines' fleet\|last=ES\|date=2019-04-16\|website=Russian Aviation Insider\|language=en-US\|access-date=2019-04-24}}
Total !20 !— !colspan="2"\|

class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto;text-align:center"

Aircraft

!In service

!Orders

!Passengers

!Notes

Sukhoi Superjet 100

|20

|—

|103

|One in M-1 Global livery{{cite news|url=http://www.ato.ru/content/azimut-poluchila-posledniy-samolet-ssj-100?slink=frs&pos=1|title="Азимут" получила последний самолет SSJ 100|date=19 April 2018|work=ato.ru}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.rusaviainsider.com/ninth-superjet-100-added-azimuth-airlines/|title=A ninth Superjet 100 is added to Azimuth Airlines' fleet|last=ES|date=2019-04-16|website=Russian Aviation Insider|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-24}}

Total

!20

!—

!colspan="2"|