Orient Avia, the independent Russian airline, has ceased operations following an engine failure on its last serviceable Ilyushin Il-62 on 10 July. The airline primarily operated services from Moscow to Vladivostok and Petroparlovsk in Kamchatka.
At its peak, Orient operated three Il-62s, an Ilyushin Il-86 and a Tupolev Tu-134 on a network of scheduled and charter services, reportedly carrying 161,000 passengers in 1996.
The airline's problems are believed to have been caused by several factors, including the failure of the Government to pay for tickets issued to state personnel and an inability to obtain maintenance for the Il-62s.
Plans for a merger between Orient and leading Russian freight carrier East Line collapsed earlier this month.
Source: Flight International
