Red Wings introduces Superjet fleet to establish Ekaterinburg hub

Russian carrier Red Wings is aiming to build a regional hub at Ekaterinburg’s Koltsovo airport using a fleet of Sukhoi Superjet 100s. Moscow-based Red Wings leased a Superjet from GTLK on 2 September, and another pair in the first few days of October. It says the aircraft are being used for a “large-scale project” to connect Ekaterinburg to other domestic regions, enabling passengers to fly from Siberia and the Urals to central and southern Russia. Since commencing the regional flights in mid-September, the airline has introduced services to nine cities, among them Nizhny Novgorod, Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Makhachkala and Volgograd. Six of the nine routes have no competitors, the carrier says. Red Wings has configured the Superjets with 100 seats in an all-economy layout. “This project is based on a win-win principle,” says Red Wings general director Evgeny Klyucharev. “It is an investment in the future restoration of demand for Russian air transport.” GTLK deputy director general Anton Korolev says the aircraft are being leased for 20 years, the “first time” such a long lease period has been agreed in the Russian market.<br/>