CJSC «Polet Flight» (Russian: ЗАО «Авиакомпания „Полёт“», ZAO «Aviakompániya "Polyót"») was an airline based in Voronezh, Russia. It operated a worldwide cargo and domestic passenger charter services from Voronezh, as well as regional passenger and cargo services from Sokol. It was one of two airlines which flew the Antonov An-124 Ruslan, the world's highest gross weight cargo airplane which specialises in oversized freight. Its collapse, over lease payments for these massive aircraft, left only the Volga-Dnepr Airlines/Antonov Airlines joint partnership in this market.[3] Its main base was Chertovitskoye Airport, Voronezh. Polet is the Russian word for flight.[4]
History
The airline was established and started operations in 1988. In 2002 Polet began serving the agricultural, aeromedical and aerial photography markets. The airline was wholly owned by Anatoly S Karpov (Chief Executive and General Director) and had a 19.5% holding in Voronezhavia.[4]
In December 2013, the carrier announced that it was evaluating the acquisition of five mid size jets for charter operations out of Voronezh.[5]
Polet was sued by Alexander Lebedev, who claimed that it owned US$8 million in lease payments for An-124 aircraft.[3][6][7][8]
Polet suspended both passenger and cargo operations on 24 November 2014 after which a Moscow Arbitration Court on 28 November placed the carrier into administration.[9]Rosaviatsia cancelled Polet's AOC in April 2015 (2015-04).[2]
^ abc(in Russian) Federal State Unitary Enterprise "State Air Traffic Management Corporation", Airline Reference, Vol. 1, Russian Federation, 20 February 2007, p. 340
