Russian president Vladimir Putin has ordered a study into the potential for establishing a new airline for transport in the eastern regions of the country, particularly to remote areas.
Putin has instructed prime minister Dmitry Medvedev to submit proposals for setting up an operator which would use Russian-built aircraft types, powered by domestically-manufactured engines.
The proposals would need to include an indication of the most appropriate aircraft types and their passenger capacity, the president’s official office states.
Medvedev has been instructed to draw up the proposals by the end of January.
The work would include determination of a route network for regional air transport – taking into account modernisation of airports in the region and the prospects for passenger demand – and a starting date.
Aeroflot Group already has a far eastern operation, Aurora, based in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk. Other carriers in the region include Angara Airlines, Yakutia, and IrAero.
