Polet Airlines

Summary

CJSC «Polet Airlines» (Russian: ЗАО «Авиакомпания „Полёт“», ZAO «Aviakompániya "Polyót"») was an airline based in Voronezh, Russia. It operated a worldwide cargo and domestic passenger charter services from Voronezh, as well as regional passenger and cargo services from Sokol. It was one of two airlines which flew the Antonov An-124 Ruslan, the world's highest gross weight cargo airplane which specialises in oversized freight. Its collapse, over lease payments for these massive aircraft, left only the Volga-Dnepr Airlines/Antonov Airlines joint partnership in this market.[3] Its main base was Chertovitskoye Airport, Voronezh. Polet is the Russian word for flight.[4]

CJSC Aircompany "Polet"
ЗАО «Авиакомпания „Полёт“»
IATA ICAO Callsign
YQ[1] POT[1] POLET[1]
Founded9 August 1988 (1988-08-09)
Ceased operationsDecember 2014 (2014-12)
HubsUlyanovsk (cargo)
Voronezh (passenger)
Focus citiesMoscow
Fleet size28
Destinations11
Parent companyAnatoly Karpov (100%)
HeadquartersVoronezh, Russia
Key peopleAnatoly Karpov (CEO)[2]
Websitewww.polet.ru (defunct)
Polet head office

History edit

The airline was established and started operations in 1988. In 2002 Polet began serving the agricultural, aeromedical and aerial photography markets. The airline was wholly owned by Anatoly S Karpov (Chief Executive and General Director) and had a 19.5% holding in Voronezhavia.[4]

In December 2013, the carrier announced that it was evaluating the acquisition of five mid size jets for charter operations out of Voronezh.[5]

Polet was sued by Alexander Lebedev, who claimed that it owned US$8 million in lease payments for An-124 aircraft.[3][6][7][8]

Polet suspended both passenger and cargo operations on 24 November 2014 after which a Moscow Arbitration Court on 28 November placed the carrier into administration.[9][10] Rosaviatsia cancelled Polet's AOC in April 2015 (2015-04).[2]

Destinations edit

 
Part of an Emirates Airbus A380 mock-up being loaded on an Antonov An-124.

As of October 2013, Polet Airlines operated scheduled passenger flights to the following destinations:[11]

Europe edit

Western Asia edit

Fleet edit

 
Polet Airlines Saab 2000 at Domodedovo International Airport

The Polet Airlines fleet included the following aircraft (as of December 2013):[12][13][14][15]

Aircraft In fleet Orders Passengers Age
(By years)
Notes
C Y Total
Antonov An-30A 2 Cartography 35.7
Antonov An-124-100 4 5 Cargo 16
Antonov An-148 2 8 TBA
BAe 125-800 5 8 8 Un­known
Ilyushin Il-76TD 1 Cargo Un­known Sold to Zet Avia
Ilyushin Il-96T 3 Cargo 1.9 Stored
Saab 340B 5 20 34 34 19.6
Saab 2000 5 2 8 42 50 12.7
Tupolev Tu-134A 1 TBA 31
Total 18 24

References edit

  1. ^ a b c (in Russian) Federal State Unitary Enterprise "State Air Traffic Management Corporation", Airline Reference, Vol. 1, Russian Federation, 20 February 2007, p. 340
  2. ^ a b Montag-Girmes, Polina (7 April 2015). "Russian authorities cancel Polet Airline's AOC". Air Transport World. Archived from the original on 9 April 2015.
  3. ^ a b Lennane, Alex (12 February 2014). "Charter rates for AN-124 freighter look set to increase after Polet's fleet is grounded". Loadstar. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 10 April 2007. pp. 64–65.
  5. ^ "Polet wants 737s/A320s to exploit Voronezh pax charter market". ch-aviation. 23 August 2013. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  6. ^ "Ministry of Defence using Russian subcontractor Polet to move sensitive cargo - despite legal action against firm". The Independent. London. 21 February 2014. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  7. ^ Lennane, Alex (20 November 2014). "Polet faces suspension, while Antonov boss is welcomed home". Loadstar. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  8. ^ Lennane, Alex (10 September 2014). "Polet must return one AN-124 after losing Russian court case against finance house". Loadstar. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  9. ^ "Polet Flight Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  10. ^ Lennane, Alex (6 January 2015). "Air cargo carriers in holiday fleet revamp while Centurion's future is still in the air". Loadstar. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  11. ^ "Passengers". polet.ru. October 2013. Archived from the original on 18 July 2009.
  12. ^ "Polyot Rossiskaya aviakompania". ATDB.aero. AeroTransport Data Bank. December 2013.
  13. ^ "Ilyushin Finance Company" (in Russian). Archived from the original on 13 May 2007.
  14. ^ "Fleet age Polet Aviakompania". Airfleets.net. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
  15. ^ "About". polet.ru. Archived from the original on 27 November 2009.

External links edit

  • Polet Airlines
  • Polet Airlines (in Russian)
  • Polet Cargo Airlines