Transaero Airlines

Transaero
Трансаэро
IATA
UN		 ICAO
TSO		 Callsign
TRANSOVIET
Founded 1990
Hubs
Frequent-flyer program Transaero Privilege Program
Airport lounge Transaero Business Class Lounge
Fleet size 103
Destinations 156
Headquarters Saint Petersburg, Russia
Key people Olga Pleshakova, CEO[1]
Website transaero.ru

OJSC Transaero Airlines (Russian: ОАО «АК «ТРАНСАЭРО», Открытое акционерное общество "Авиационная компания "ТРАНСАЭРО") or simply Transaero (Russian: Трансаэро) is an airline with its head office in Saint Petersburg, Russia.[2] It operates scheduled and charter flights to more than 99 domestic and international destinations. Its main bases are Domodedovo International Airport in Moscow and Pulkovo Airport in Saint Petersburg.

History

Ilyushin Il-86 (1997)
Formerly used Airbus A310
Formerly used Boeing 757-200
Transero operated the McDonnell Douglas DC-10 for a time in the mid 1990s. This example formerly flew for National, Pan Am and American Airlines.[3]

Transaero began as a charter airline with aircraft leased from Aeroflot. It was incorporated as a joint stock company on 28 December 1990 and was the first private company approved for scheduled passenger services in the Soviet Union. Its first charter service was Moscow to Tel Aviv on 5 November 1991. In July 1992, Transaero received its own Ilyushin Il-86. It became the first privately owned airline to operate scheduled flights in Russia when it launched its Moscow–Norilsk flight in January 1993 followed by Kiev, Sochi and Almaty later the same year. Its first international scheduled route from Moscow to Tel Aviv was inaugurated in November 1993.

In April 1993, Transaero started operating western-made aircraft when it received its first Boeing 737-200, followed by its first Boeing 757-200 in April 1994.

Transaero was also the first Russian airline with a frequent flyer program, which established in 1995. It was also the first Russian airline with an FAA aircraft maintenance certificate, which it obtained in 1997. In December 1998 a weekly service between Moscow and Gatwick Airport in London was started. Transaero operated its first Boeing 737-700 in 1998, followed by Boeing 767-200 and Boeing 737-300 in 2002 and Boeing 767-300 and Boeing 737-400 in 2003. An agreement was signed to purchase 10 Tupolev Tu-214-300 in the same year.[4] In 2005, Transaero became the first Russian passenger airline to operate the Boeing 747 when it started services on 11 July 2005 with a leased, ex-Virgin Atlantic Airways Boeing 747-200 on scheduled services from Moscow to Tel Aviv. The aircraft would also operate summer charter flights to holiday destinations.

In May 2005, Transaero added a flight between Moscow and Montreal, marking the first time the airline flew to Canada. On 21 June 2006, Transaero also began operating nonstop flights between Moscow and Toronto.[5] The service to Toronto was temporarily suspended in September 2008, but has since been restored, whereas the service to Montreal has been cancelled as of 2009.

In November 2007 the airline announced a new scheduled bi-weekly service between Moscow and Sydney, Australia via Hong Kong, commencing 24 December 2007. The flight was operated by Boeing 767-300 equipment. This route is now cancelled.

In October 2009 Austrian Airlines AG and Transaero Airlines have concluded a code-share agreement in Moscow on the routing Vienna to Moscow. Under the Agreement Austrian Airlines will put its code on Transaero's daily Moscow-Vienna flight, while Transaero will put its code on one of the three daily Vienna-Moscow flights which are operated by Austrian.[6]

Transaero received 4 Boeing 777-300 aircraft that formerly belonged to Singapore Airlines in 2011.[7]

In 2011, Transaero agreed to buy 4 of Boeing's newest widebody, the Boeing 747-8,[8] and put in a memorandum of understanding for 4 Airbus A380s.[9]

In 2013 Transaero carried nearly 12.5 million people operating 98 aircraft.[10] In 2014 Transaero is operating direct flights from Moscow to Miami with B744.

Rebranding

Transaero hosted a competition for a new logo and livery for remranding in 2013-2014, but that time it did not discuss the time of that procedure. But in April 2015, the airline made a decission to make the rembranding this year and the new livery and logo will be introduced with upcoming Airbus A380, Boeing 747-8 and Sukhoi Superjet 100.[11][12]

Corporate affairs

Transaero is controlled by Olga and Aleksandr Pleshakov. Aleksandr's mother Tatiana Anodina has been the head of the Interstate Aviation Committee, the aviation oversight body in CIS, since 1991.[13][14] Aleksandr's father is Piotr Pleshakov - a Soviet military engineer, who was the Soviet Union's Minister of Radioelectronic Industry from 1974 till 1987.[15] There was press speculation regarding Anodina's conflict of interest in certifying aircraft with respect to Transaero's market position.[16][17]

Destinations

Expansion into China and the U.S.

In October 2010, Transaero launched flights to Beijing, Miami and New York City.[18] This marked the return of Transaero to the United States since cancelling service to Los Angeles. Beijing became the second Chinese destination past Sanya. On 29 April 2012 Transaero resumed its service between Moscow and Los Angeles, utilizing a 777-200ER on the route.

Codeshare agreements

Transaero has codeshare agreements with the following airlines (as of April 2015):

Fleet

Transaero Boeing 737-86J EI-UNJ on short final to London Heathrow Airport.
Transaero Boeing 747-412 EI-XLK (in Flight of Hope livery) taxiing at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Transaero Boeing 777-312 EI-UNL (still bearing the registration 9V-SYA of former owner Singapore Airlines) on final approach to Singapore Changi Airport.
Transaero Tupolev Tu-214 RA-64509 departing Kazan International Airport.

As of March 2015, the Transaero Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft:[23][24]

Transaero Airlines Fleet
Aircraft in Service Orders Passengers Notes
F C W Y Total
Airbus A320neo — 8[25] TBA Replacing Boeing 737-300 and Boeing 737-400
Airbus A321-200 — 6[26] TBA
Airbus A330neo — 12[27] TBA
Airbus A330ceo — 8[27] TBA
Airbus A380-800 — 4[28] 12 24 — 616 652[29] Deliveries from 2015.[30]
Replacing Boeing 747-400s with Boeing 747-8Is.
Boeing 737-300 3 — — 8 42 72 122 To be phased out and replaced by Airbus A320neo
Boeing 737-400 5 — — 8 60 72 140 To be phased out and replaced by Airbus A320neo
Boeing 737-500 14 — — 8 42 51 101 3 equipped with winglets
Boeing 737-700 7 — — — 14 107 121 Ex-Malév
Boeing 737-800 18 10[31] — 8 60 96 164 12 equipped with winglets. New Livery to be introduced with EI-RUR.[32]
Boeing 747-400 20 — 12 26 — 409 447 To be replaced by Airbus A380-800s and Boeing 747-8Is in 2015.
1012—439461
—12—510522
Boeing 747-8I — 4 TBA To be delivered in 2015. Replacing Boeing 747-400s with Airbus A380-800.
Boeing 767-200ER 2 — — 16 — 214 230
Boeing 767-300ER 16 — — 10 117 106 235
—269892216
Boeing 777-200 2 — 12 14 167 113 306
Boeing 777-200ER 7 — 12 14 167 113 306
Boeing 777-300 5 — 4 14 131 222 371 ex-Singapore Airlines[7]
Sukhoi Superjet[33] — 6 TBA
Tupolev Tu-214 3 — — 8 — 174 182
Irkut MS-21-300 — 6[34] TBA
Total 102 58

Orders

It was reported in 2007 that Transaero negotiated a deal with Continental Airlines to purchase 10 of their Boeing 737-500 aircraft still in their fleet.[35] Transaero is also planning to replace all of its Boeing 747-200s with used Boeing 747-400s. The first replacement entered service at the end of 2007. It plans to convert the -200s into freighter versions to 'develop Transaero's cargo traffic'.[36] In April 2010, Transaero arranged to lease 9 ex-Japan Airlines Boeing 747-400 which are to enter the fleet in 2010–2012.[37] In December 2010, Transaero announced that they would increase their deal to 12 Boeing 747-400.[7] Transaero also ordered 4 Boeing 787s on 26 December 2011,[38] confirming this order on 8 April 2012.[39]

Transaero also held unconfirmed orders for 4 Airbus A380s and 4 Boeing 747-8s, with the memorandum of understandings having been signed on 31 October 2011 and 9 November 2011, respectively.[40][41] The Airbus A380 orders were confirmed on 21 June 2012.[28] Transaero also has plans to order 6 Sukhoi Superjets, which would be delivered beginning in 2015.[42]

Retired fleet

Transaero's Yakovlev Yak-40 operated for Yak Aircraft Corporation.
Transaero Airlines Retired Fleet[43]
Aircraft Year retired Notes
Airbus A310-300 2001
Antonov An-124 ? Cargo
Boeing 737-200 2001
Boeing 737-700 2005 returned into service after 5 ex-Malev aircraft were acquired
Boeing 747-200[36][44] 2011
Boeing 747-300 2013
Boeing 757-200 1999
Boeing 767-300 1999 -ER Version continues to operate
Ilyushin Il-86 ?
McDonnell Douglas DC-10 1999
Tupolev Tu-154 ?
Yakovlev Yak-40 2002

Maintenance operations

Transaero has established a new maintenance company based at Shannon Airport, Ireland as a result of its purchase of the Air Atlanta aircraft maintenance operation. The new company is called Transaero Engineering Ireland.[45] In addition to maintaining its own aircraft, Transaero Engineering also performs third-party maintenance work for other customers, including airlines Air Berlin, Arkia Israel, El Al, and the TUI Group family of airlines, and aircraft lessors AerCap, Aircastle, BBAM LLC, FLY Leasing, GECAS, ILFC, Macquarie AirFinance, and SMBC.[46][47]

Cabin

Transaero cabin amenities depend greatly on which airline the aircraft was bought or leased from. Transaero's cabins differ greatly in amenities and layout from plane to plane, ranging from poorly equipped cabins of older European/USA operators on 737s to quite decent set of features in aircraft leased or purchased from Singapore Airlines (Transaero had to install their own first class cabin, because SIA kept their first class seats). The description below applies only to the Boeing 777's which used to belong to Singapore Airlines. 777-300s and some 747-400 were retrofitted with the Fiber optics to the screen Lumexis AVOD system in all classes. Wi-Fi Internet connection and cellular services are available on select routes and planes, with the price tag varying from 400 RUR ($12 US) for an hour to 800 RUR ($24 US) for 24 hours.

Tourist Economy Class: Transaero's Tourist Economy Class features standard seat pitch(depends on aircraft but usually 31-32 inches), recline and width. The airline provides free food for Tourist passengers and an in-flight entertainment system is available for free on Boeing 747-400, Boeing 777-200ER and Boeing 777-300.[48] The in-flight entertainment on international routes aboard the 747, and the 777-200ER, is either an integrated personal TV with 5-7 broadcast channels or AVOD Lumexis.

Premium Economy Class: Premium Economy Class offers the same seat width as the Tourist Economy Class but a greater seat pitch of up to 36 inches[49] and enhanced recline features for a recline of 29 degrees(just over 7 inches). The Premium Economy Class seats on the 777-300 are also distinguished by red seats instead of the blue seats in Tourist Economy Class. In addition to more seat pitch, recline and free food, Transaero also offers a larger baggage allowance for the Premium Economy class fares. The in-flight-entertainment system is available for free, with Lumexis AVOD on select Boeing 747-400s and all Boeing 777-300s. Passengers flying Premium Economy will also be able to make use of a dedicated check-in desk at selected airports.[48]

Business/Premium Class: Business Class offers passengers a wider seat than Economy along with additional legroom and deeper recline. Each seat has two armrests and In-Flight-Entertainment is free of charge and includes a larger selection of music, movies and television. The cabins are located either in the upper deck on 747s or in the front part of the plane on all other types. The menus offer more choice, better quality food than Economy. The inflight service is individual and a la carte with wide selection of free beverages, wells and wines. There are free taxi transfers from Moscow Airports on some international routes and some fare classes.[48]

Imperial Class: Imperial Class is Transaero's First Class. The seats offer extra privacy and are the widest seats of all on the aircraft. The seat reclines fully flat to form a large bed for passengers and the food on offered is either Russian or European. Complimentary taxi transfers are available for Imperial Class passengers.[48]

References

  1. ↑ "Авиакомпания ТРАНСАЭРО". Transaero.ru. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  2. ↑ Contact us. Transaero Airlines. Retrieved on 21 June 2010. "JSC "Transaero Airlines", Russia, St Petersburg,Liteyny prospect, 48A." – "Связь с нами." – Address in Russian: "Россия, С.Петербург Литейный пр-т, 48 «А», ОАО «АК «Трансаэро»"
  3. ↑ "planespotters.net record for DC-10 46712/106". planespotters.net. Retrieved 24 October 2014.
  4. ↑ "Transaero Agrees To Purchase 10 Tupolev Tu-214-300's". Tupolev.ru. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "Transaero". Transaero.ru. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  6. ↑ "OAO Transaero Airlines: Private Company Information". Investing.businessweek.com. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 "Transaero to buy four 777-300s operated by Singapore Airlines". ATW Online. Retrieved 2011-01-03.
  8. ↑ Cook, Brad. "Russian Carrier Transaero Orders Four Boeing 747-8 Airplanes". Bloomberg Business Week. Retrieved 2012-01-29.
  9. ↑ 3 October 2012 (2012-10-03). "Transaero Airlines commits to four A380s | Airbus News & Events". Airbus.com. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  10. ↑ https://transaero.ru/en/company/press-centre/news?year=2014&id=210114_press_en
  11. ↑ ""«Трансаэро» оставила топ-менеджмент без бонусов и затеяла ребрендинг"". Izvestia. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  12. ↑ ""«Трансаэро» затеяла ребрендинг на фоне кризиса в авиаотрасли"". Lenta.ru. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  13. ↑ Kuznetsova, Elizaveta (Елизавета Кузнецова). ""Аэрофлот" не прошел регистрацию на рейс (Russian)." Kommersant. No. 18 (5049). 1 February 2013. Retrieved on 19 April 2013. "Участники отрасли и эксперты полагают, что проблемы возникли из-за нерасторопности комитета, который возглавляет Татьяна Анодина — мать Александра Плешакова, совладельца "Трансаэро", основного конкурента "Аэрофлота"."
  14. ↑ Kryukov, Dimitri (Дмитрий Крюков). "Запасной аэродром." (Russian). Kommersant. No. 18 (5049). 1 February 2013. Retrieved on 19 April 2013. "Последняя — единственная частная компания в шорт-листе. Свыше 80% ее контролирует семья Плешаковых в лице Ольги, ее мужа Александра и свекрови Татьяны Анодиной — одной из самых влиятельных фигур российской авиации. Анодина является бессменным председателем Межгосударственного авиационного комитета (МАК), ответственного за сертификацию самолетов на территории СНГ."
  15. ↑ Глава радиопрома СССРШулунов, Алексей (12 July 2002). Глава радиопрома СССР. Nezavisimaya gazeta (in Russian). Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  16. ↑ ""Аэрофлот" получил разрешение на эксплуатацию Boeing 777" (in Russian). lenta.ru. 2013-02-05.
  17. ↑ "Boeing 777 "Аэрофлота" с отключенным двигателем сел в "Шереметьево"" (in Russian). Ведомости (Vedomosti). 2013-02-11.
  18. ↑ "Transaero announced China and U.S. destinations (Russian)". Votpusk.ru. 2010-01-27. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  19. ↑ http://my.news.yahoo.com/china-airlines-landmark-taiwan-russia-131142917.html
  20. ↑ "Transaero Airlines and easyJet Sign Commercial Agreement Press Statement".
  21. ↑ "easyJet - Transaero codeshare".
  22. ↑ "North America remains Virgin Atlantic’s main network focus". Fiercely independent Virgin Atlantic struggles to attain profitability. CAPA Centre for Aviation. Retrieved 23 August 2012.
  23. ↑ "Transaero Fleet". Transaero. Retrieved 2013-12-27.
  24. ↑ http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/airline/UN#al_profile_tab_fleet
  25. ↑ 03 October 2012 (2012-10-03). "Transaero Airlines firms up order for eight A320neo aircraft | Airbus News & Events". Airbus.com. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  26. ↑ Авиакомпания ТРАНСАЭРО
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Авиакомпания «Трансаэро» заказала 20 самолетов Airbus A330.
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 03 October 2012 (2012-10-03). "Transaero Airlines firms up order for four A380s | Airbus Press release". Airbus.com. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  29. ↑ USA Today http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2013/10/18/at-652-seats-transaeros-a380s-could-top-all-others/3007917/. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  30. ↑ 03 October 2012 (2012-10-03). "Press releases | Airbus, a leading aircraft manufacturer". Airbus.com. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  31. ↑ "Авиакомпания ТРАНСАЭРО". Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  32. ↑ http://www.airliners.net/photo/Transaero-Airlines/Boeing-737-8MC/2620930/L/&sid=848f849948c84e7546e00b67144f9f51
  33. ↑ "UAC :: News :: Transaero Airlines and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft signed a firm contract on delivery of six Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft". Uacrussia.ru. 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2012-11-03.
  34. ↑ ”Трансаэро” возьмет в лизинг шесть российских лайнеров МС-21 :: Экономика :: Top.rbc.ru
  35. ↑ Reiter, Chris (2007-07-19). "Continental profit fueled by international demand". Usatoday.Com. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Transaero to acquire Boeing 747-400s and convert -200s to freighters". Flightglobal.com. 2007-08-28. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  37. ↑ "Transaero". Transaero.ru. 2010-04-28. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  38. ↑ "Russia's Transaero to take four 787s". Flightglobal.com. 26 December 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  39. ↑ Toh, Mavis (9 April 2012). "Russia's Transaero confirms order for four Boeing 787-8s". Flightglobal. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  40. ↑ "Transaero inks MOU for four A380s". Air Transport World. 31 October 2011. Archived from the original on 28 December 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  41. ↑ "Transaero inks order for four 747-8Is". Air Transport World. 9 November 2011. Archived from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  42. ↑ Khrennikov, Ilya. "Transaero to Order Six Sukhoi Superjets, Kommersant Reports". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  43. ↑ "Transaero Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  44. ↑ "Transaero Airlines Fleet of B747 (Stored) | Airfleets aviation". Airfleets.net. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  45. ↑ "Transaero Engineering to expand its staff". RTÉ News. 27 April 2012.
  46. ↑ "Our Customers - Transaero Engineering Ireland". Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  47. ↑ "Transaero Engineering Ireland Official Launch strengthens Irish – Russian Economic Ties - 27/04/2012". Shannon Chamber. 27 April 2012. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 48.3 "From Russia With Love — Transaero Airlines" - Airliner World, March 2009
  49. ↑ http://3d.transaero.ru/sites/all/themes/transaero/panorama/v2/777300.html

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