Azimuth and other SSJ100 operators have promoted international services with those who operates Airbus and Boeing tend to focus on domestic routes.

Experiencing a severe shortage of mainline jetliners for international services, Russian carriers are collaborating to develop new hubs in the south of Russia, from where the locally built Irkut SSJ100 can reach popular destinations in Asia and North Africa. The most convenient location is Sochi, Russia which is operated by the airport in Adler, Russia, from where the SSJ100-95LR can fly to Mumbai with covering distance of 4,150 km and Goa International with 4,470 km in India, while the shorter-legged SSJ100- 95B can fly to Istanbul and can reach to Ankara, Cairo, Jerusalem, Muscat and Almaty. Adler is located 1,400 km far away from south of Moscow and once served as a destination airport for vacationers visiting resorts on the Black Sea coast. On 26 February, after the European Union closed its airspace to Russian carriers, banned the delivery of airplanes and components to Russian companies and demanded the return of all leased aircraft, Adler asked Russia to avoid the outside world.

Tourism agencies selling packages for Russian vacationers – which are expected to serve 10 million international travellers this year – encouraged the trend. As per as report, unlike a dozen other airports in the south Russia which is closed temporarily because of its close proximity to a war zone in Ukraine but Sochi continues to operate without sanctions. Airlines first use Airbus or Boeing airplanes to pick up passengers at Adler Airport – which Western owners can seize outside Russia – and then fly them to final destinations on Superjet. Various Russian airlines and lessors have 148 SSJ100s, including Aeroflot and its branch Rossiya.

UNESCO

Tourism agencies selling packages for Russian vacationers – which are expected to serve 10 million international travellers this year – encouraged the trend.

In April, the two launched international services from Sochi invited other local companies to join hands in the effort. So far, 24 carriers have signed a framework agreement with Russia’s Transport Clearing House, which manages financial transactions between them. Combined, the airlines connect 34 Russian cities with Sochi and offer its customers about the option of continuing onward travel to foreign destinations. In addition to it members of the Aeroflot Group, signatories include Ural Airlines, Nordwind, Nordstar, Azimuth, Yamal and UTair. Azimuth, an all-SuperJet-airline, operates daily flights from Sochi to Dubai, Istanbul and Antalya and two other airports in southern Russia: Makhachkala (630 km east of MCX, Adler) and Caucasus Mineral Waters (MRV).

The new routes come as an addition to those already connecting all three to various destinations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the UAE. While Azimuth and other SSJ100 operators have promoted international services with those who operates Airbus and Boeing tend to focus on domestic routes. Later on, 27 April, Ural Airlines announced the immediate cancellation of all flights to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Uzbekistan until 29 October. The move comes after the European Union placed the company on its security blacklist along with 20 other Russian carriers for compliance with international safety standards.

Aeroflot

The new routes come as an addition to those already connecting all three to various destinations in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and the UAE.