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Saratov Airlines

{{short description|Russian airline}}

{{Redirect|Saravia}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}}

{{Infobox airline

| airline = Saratov Airlines

| logo = Saratov Airlines logo.png

| logo_size = 250

| fleet_size = 8

| destinations = 21

| IATA = 6W

| ICAO = SOV

| callsign = SARATOV AIR

| parent =

| company_slogan =

| founded = 1931 (as Saratov Air Enterprise of Aeroflot)

| ceased = 30 May 2018

| headquarters = Saratov, Russia

| key_people = Alexei Vakhromeev, Director

| hubs =

| secondary_hubs =

| focus_cities =

| frequent_flyer =

| lounge =

| alliance =

| website = [http://www.saratovairlines.ru/sites/en/pages/Default.aspx saratovairlines.ru]

|image=|aoc=|num_employees=}}

Saratov Airlines (Saratov Airlines Joint Stock Company, {{langx|ru|Саратовские авиалинии}}, Saratovskiye avialinii) was a Russian airline headquartered in Saratov and based at Saratov Tsentralny Airport. The company ceased operating on 30 May 2018 after the Russian aviation authority refused to renew its operating certificate.

History

Saratov Airlines was founded in 1931. It was called "Saratov United Air Squad" and was a part of Aeroflot.{{citation needed|date=February 2018}} Until late 2013 the airline was branded Saravia ({{langx|ru|Саравиа}}).[https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/22401-saravia-to-rebrand-as-saratov-airlines-with-delivery-of-emb-195s ch-aviation.com – Saravia to rebrand as Saratov Airlines with delivery of EMB-195s] 11 October 2013

In December 2013, Saratov Airlines became the first Russian operator of Embraer E-Jets, with the arrival of two Embraer 195 aircraft.[http://aviationtribune.com/airlines/europe/saratov-airlines-adds-two-embraer-195-aircraft/ aviationtribune.com – Saratov Airlines Adds Two Further Embraer 195 Aircraft] 6 December 2017

On 14 October 2015, the Russian aviation authorities sanctioned Saratov Airlines after a violation of security rules. The airline was therefore no longer allowed to operate flights to destinations outside of Russia from 26 October 2015.[http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/40935-rosaviatsia-sanctions-saratov-airlines-for-safety-violations ch-aviation.com – Rosaviatsia sanctions Saratov Airlines for safety violations] 14 October 2015 However, by May 2016 the airline had resumed international charter services.

In July 2017, it was announced that the airline had signed a letter of intent to lease six Irkut MC-21-300s at the MAKS Air Show in Moscow scheduled to be delivered from 2022–2025.{{Cite web|url=http://atwonline.com/aircraft-engines/russia-s-mc-21-and-il-114-win-new-orders-maks-air-show|title=Russia's MC-21 and IL-114 win new orders at MAKS Air Show|date=19 July 2017|website=atwonline.com|language=en-GB|access-date=19 July 2017}}

On 20 March 2018, the Russian Ministry of Transport ordered the suspension of all Saratov Airline flights following the investigation into the crash of Flight 703.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbc.ru/society/20/03/2018/5ab0f8e99a7947133994cdf4|title=Ространснадзор предписал приостановить полеты Ан-148 после катастрофы|website=РБК|date=20 March 2018 |access-date=20 March 2018}} The airline responded with a message on its website stating that it "continues to carry out flights on Embraer-190 and Yak-42 aircraft".{{Cite web|url=http://www.saratovairlines.ru/site_news/newslist.aspx|script-title=ru:АО Саратовские авиалинии – Новости|website=www.saratovairlines.ru|language=ru-ru|access-date=20 March 2018}} Later in the day it emerged that the Ministry of Transport had shortened the period of validity of the airline's operating certificate to 27 April 2018.[https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/saratov-faces-restrictions-as-russian-an-148s-scruti-446934/ Saratov faces restrictions as Russian An-148s scrutinised] On 2 April the Russian aviation authority called on the airline to voluntarily cease operating due to its management's "unprecedented and irresponsible" attitude towards ensuring the safety of passengers and crew.[https://www.rbc.ru/rbcfreenews/5ac252619a794701c07388e6 Росавиация призвала «Саратовские авиалинии» добровольно прекратить работу] One of the reasons for this reaction was the airline's submission of a list of current planes and crew which included the aircraft that crashed and crew members who died in February.

On 10 April 2018, it was announced that Saratov Airlines planned to re-brand itself as Ivolga Airlines. The reasons for this action are various: some experts say this is due to the air crash that occurred in February, by taking the idea from S7 Airlines and Nordavia, that re-branded after air crashes in 2006 and 2009, respectively; some experts say that it is because the airline now flies from hubs other than Saratov, such as Moscow-Domodedovo and Krasnoyarsk-Yemelyanovo.{{cite web|url=http://www.frequentflyers.ru/2018/04/09/ivolga/|title="Саратовские авиалинии" стали "Иволгой"|newspaper=frequentflyers.ru|date=10 April 2018}} However, the envisioned rebranding never took place.

On 17 May 2018, the Russian aviation authority ordered the airline to stop selling tickets by the end of May.{{Cite news|url=https://meduza.io/news/2018/05/17/rosaviatsiya-zapretila-saratovskim-avialiniyam-prodavat-bilety-na-reysy-kompaniya-zayavila-o-prekraschenii-raboty|script-title=ru:Росавиация запретила "Саратовским авиалиниям" продавать билеты на рейсы. Компания заявила о прекращении работы|work=Meduza|access-date=17 May 2018|language=ru-RU}} Initially, the company stated that it would permanently cease operations on 31 May.{{Cite news|url=https://fn-volga.ru/news/view/id/83955|script-title=ru:"Саратовские авиалинии" объявляют о возможном закрытии авиапредприятия|access-date=17 May 2018|language=ru |date=17 May 2018 }} However, later it removed this information from its website, resumed selling tickets, and told the media that it expects its operating certificate to be re-issued no later than 27 May.{{Cite news|url=https://meduza.io/feature/2018/05/18/saratovskie-avialinii-ob-yavili-o-prekraschenii-raboty-posle-mnogomesyachnogo-konflikta-s-rosaviatsiey-a-na-sleduyuschiy-den-peredumali|script-title=ru:"Саратовские авиалинии" объявили о прекращении работы после многомесячного конфликта с Росавиацией. А на следующий день передумали|work=Meduza|access-date=19 May 2018|language=ru-RU}} This however, did not happen and the airline ceased all flights and ticket sales on 30 May 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/saratov-airlines-suspends-operations-as-certificate-449030/|title=Saratov Airlines suspends operations as certificate expires|date=30 May 2018|work=Flightglobal.com|access-date=30 May 2018|language=en-GB}} The airline continues to operate the only airport in the Saratov Oblast.

Destinations

File:Yakovlev Yak-42D, Saravia - Saratov Airlines JP6595513.jpg]]

File:Saratov Airlines ERJ-195 VQ-BRY.jpg]]

File:Saratov Airlines Antonov An-148 takes off at Domodedovo.jpg]]

As of May 2018, Saratov Airlines operated the following domestic scheduled and international charter passenger flights:[http://www.saratovairlines.ru/tariffs_department/tariffs_department.aspx saratovairlines.ru – Расписание ("Schedule")] (Russian) retrieved 25 May 2016

;Armenia

;Georgia

  • Tbilisi – Tbilisi International Airport{{cite news|title=Saratov Airlines to launch Mineral Waters – Tbilisi flight – C.A.A.N|url=http://caan.asia/en/2017/10/27/saratov-airlines-to-launch-mineral-waters-tbilisi-flight/|access-date=30 October 2017|work=caan.asia|date=27 October 2017}}

;Russia

Fleet

As of May 2018, shortly before Saratov Airlines ceased operations, the fleet included the following aircraft:{{Cite news|url=https://ria.ru/tourism/20180506/1519983196.html?referrer_block=index_daynews2_2|script-title=ru:Самолет "Саратовских авиалиний" вылетел из Турции с опозданием более чем на сутки|date=6 May 2018|work=РИА Новости|access-date=30 May 2018|language=ru}}

class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; border-collapse:collapse;text-align:center"

|+ Saratov Airlines

rowspan="2"|Aircraft

!rowspan="2"|In Service

!rowspan="2"|Orders

!colspan="3"|Passengers

!rowspan="2"|Notes

"

! C

! Y

!Total

Antonov An-148-100

|1

|—

|—

|83

|83

|leased from Rossiya Airlines{{Cite news|url=http://www.ato.ru/content/saratovskie-avialinii-poluchili-pervyy-samolet-148?sea=26979|title="Саратовские авиалинии" получили первый самолет Ан-148|date=12 November 2016|newspaper=Авиатранспортное обозрение|access-date=28 December 2016}} and grounded{{Cite news|url=https://themoscowtimes.com/news/russia-grounds-all-an-148-planes-over-safety-fears-after-plane-crash-60882|title=Russia Grounds All AN-148 Planes Over Safety Fears After Plane Crash|access-date=20 March 2018|language=en}}

Boeing 737-800

|—

|1

|colspan="3"|TBA

|was planned to be leased from GECAS and to be delivered in 2019{{cite web|url=http://www.ato.ru/content/saratovskie-avialinii-obnovyat-brend-i-vvedut-v-park-novyy-tip-vs|title="Саратовские авиалинии" обновят бренд и введут в парк новый тип ВС|newspaper=ato.ru|date=13 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://tass.ru/transport/5118147|title=Парк "Саратовских авиалиний" пополнят Embraer и Boeing|newspaper=tass.ru|date=12 April 2018}}

Embraer 195

|2

|2

|10

|104

|114

|Two operated at closure, two further deliveries received in April and May 2018 but never taken into service{{cite web|url=http://www.ato.ru/content/saratovskie-avialinii-utochnili-sroki-polucheniya-dvuh-samoletov-embraer?slink=mai&pos=|title="Саратовские авиалинии" уточнили сроки получения двух самолетов Embraer|newspaper=ato.ru|date=4 April 2018}}

rowspan="2"|Yakovlev Yak-42

|rowspan="2"|5

|rowspan="2"|—

|16

|84

|100

|rowspan="2"|were to be phased out by August 2019{{cite web|url=https://news.sarbc.ru/main/2018/04/19/215707.html|title="Иволга" меняет Яки на "Эмбрайеры" и "Боинги"|newspaper=sarbc.ru|date=19 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ato.ru/content/saratovskie-avialinii-vyvedut-iz-parka-vse-yak-42|title="Саратовские авиалинии" выведут из парка все Як–42|newspaper=ato.ru|date=16 April 2018}}

—

|120

|120

Total

!8

!3

!colspan="4"|

Incidents and accidents

{{main|Saratov Airlines Flight 703}}

On 11 February 2018, Saratov Airlines flight 703, disappeared from radar and crashed less than ten minutes after takeoff.{{Cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/russia-airplane-crash_us_5a803fd7e4b08dfc93050de6|title=Airliner Crashes in Russia, Killing All 71 People on Board: Reports|agency=Reuters|date=11 February 2018|work=Huffington Post|access-date=12 February 2018|language=en-US}} The flight, operated using an An-148 and scheduled to depart from Moscow's Domodedovo airport to the Russian city of Orsk, had 71 people on board; 65 passengers and six crew members.{{Cite web|url=http://www.airlive.net/breaking-antonov-an-148-with-71-people-onboard-missing-after-taking-off-from-moscow/|title=BREAKING Antonov An-148 with 71 people onboard missing after taking off from Moscow {{!}} AIRLIVE.net|website=www.airlive.net|language=en-US|access-date=11 February 2018}} The crash occurred near the village of Stepanovskoye about 50 miles southeast of Moscow.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/11/world/europe/russia-plane-crash-saratov-airlines.html|title=russia-plane-crash-saratov-airlines|newspaper=The New York Times |date=11 February 2018 |access-date=11 February 2018|last1=MacFarquhar |first1=Neil |last2=Nechepurenko |first2=Ivan }} No one on board survived the plane crash.

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{commons category-inline|Saratov Airlines|Saratov Airlines}}

  • [http://www.saratovairlines.ru/ Official website] {{in lang|en|ru}}

{{Portalbar|Russia|Aviation|Transport}}

{{Airlines of Russia}}

Category:Defunct airlines of Russia

Category:Former Aeroflot divisions

Category:Airlines established in 1931

Category:Airlines disestablished in 2018

Category:1931 establishments in the Soviet Union

Category:2018 disestablishments in Russia

Category:Companies based in Saratov

Category:Government-owned airlines