Kuban Airlines is one of the most successful large Russian carriers in southern Russia. The airline was based at the Krasnodar Pashkovsky Airport. However, in 2012, the company's operations were suspended due to bankruptcy.
Kuban Airlines: aircraft photos, history
The company was founded in 1993 on the basis of the Krasnodar Aviation Unit. However, the year of creation of the airline is considered 1932, when 7 Po-2 aircraft landed near the Krasnodar state farm Pashkovsky. In 1933 an air base was created. The Krasnodar air squad was formed in 1934. Flights were carried out mainly in the Krasnodar Territory.
During the war period, the aviation detachment was engaged in the evacuation of the wounded and the delivery of ammunition and fuel and lubricants to the front. After the war, flight operations were resumed.
In 1960, reconstruction of the runway and the airport was completed, and 4 years later the first Tu-124 jet aircraft was adopted. The second runway was built in the 80s.
In 1993, the Kuban airline was founded on the basis of an aviation detachment. In 2010, the rebranding process began - part of the fleet was decorated with a new livery with sunflowers. In the summer of 2011, Kuban Airlines entered into a leasing agreement for the supply of 3 aircraft of the type A319 (Airbus). In December 2012, the airline’s operations were discontinued.
Activities
The carrier-based airport "Kuban" - Krasnodar. In 2012, the airline operated flights to 18 domestic and foreign destinations. Cargo and mail were also transported. In 2009, the revenue amounted to more than 3 billion rubles, in 2010 - 3.37, and in 2011 - 4.07. In 2010, the company's fleet was replenished with 3 Boeing 737-300 aircraft. By 2012, it was planned to bring the number of Boeing aircraft to 8-10 units. As new equipment arrived, the old one was decommissioned. In 2010, the Basic Element enterprise, which included Kuban, signed a memorandum of cooperation with Sky Express shareholders, which essentially meant the creation of a new airline.
Air park
Kuban Airlines operated the following aircraft according to 2010 data:
- YAK-42 - 6 airliners with 100 passenger seats.
- YAK-42D - 6 airliners with 100 passenger seats.
- Boeing 737-300 - 3 airliners with 124 passenger seats.
Until 2007, there were 2 domestic Tu-154 aircraft in the fleet, which were subsequently leased. The average life of the Yak-42 aircraft was 23 years, and the Boeing 737 was 16 years. It was also planned to supply Boeing 737-700 aircraft. The company also had its own aviation and technical base, which made it possible to maintain the airworthiness of aircraft.
Directions
Kuban flights were sold to the following destinations:
- Dubai (from Krasnodar and Perm).
- Yerevan (from Krasnodar).
- Kaliningrad (from Moscow).
- Krasnodar (from Moscow, Perm, St. Petersburg, Sochi).
- Moscow (from Krasnodar, Perm, Nalchik, Chelyabinsk, Kaliningrad, Sochi).
- Nalchik (from Moscow).
- Samara (from Krasnodar).
- Samsun (from Krasnodar).
- St. Petersburg (from Krasnodar).
- Sochi (from Moscow and Krasnodar).
- Istanbul (from Krasnodar).
- Tel Aviv (from Krasnodar).
- Chelyabinsk (from Moscow).
These flights were carried out regularly. In addition, charter flights along popular seasonal routes were also carried out.
Bankruptcy
In December 2012, Kuban Airlines announced the completion of its operations and the suspension of all flights. The official reason for the cessation of operations was the inability to comply with some of the new provisions of the FAP regarding the requirements for organizations involved in the implementation of air transportation. These changes to the Federal Aviation Rules entered into force in November 2012. This fact was revealed as a result of an unscheduled inspection by the inspection of the Southern Air Transport Authority.
After the checks, the leaders of the airline published an appeal on the suspension of flights on the site. The Federal Air Transport Agency explained that the license was revoked due to the financial insolvency of the company and the ineffective financial and economic policy of the management. The total debt of Kuban Airlines to service providers at the time of bankruptcy was approximately 5 billion rubles.
In March 2013, media reported that the operator’s certificate was revoked by the Air Transport Agency. This happened because more than 3 months have passed since its suspension.
Passenger reviews
From the positive reviews about the company can be identified:
- Great on-board service.
- The friendliness and friendliness of the cabin crew.
- Excellent food during the flight.
- Excellent condition of the aircraft.
- The professionalism of the pilots.
Of the negative reviews can be identified:
- Problems with refunds for airline tickets due to bankruptcy of the carrier.
- Long refund for unused tickets.
- Frequent flight cancellations.
- The narrow space between the seats.
- The high cost of airfare.
- Problems with returning and reissuing tickets.
Kuban Airlines was one of the oldest Russian civil aviation enterprises. She was engaged in passenger, freight and postal services. Passengers were offered more than 30 destinations in Russia, countries of near and far abroad. Over the entire period of the company’s existence, not a single accident occurred, which indicates a high level of safety and reliability of aircraft. It was Kuban that made a significant contribution to the development of air transport in southern Russia.