Utair (Russian: ОАО «Авиакомпания «ЮТэйр») (MCX: UTAR) is a Russian airline with its head office at Khanty-Mansiysk Airport[4] while its hubs are at Surgut International Airport and Vnukovo International Airport. It operates scheduled domestic and some international passenger services, scheduled helicopter services, and extensive charter flights with fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters in support of the oil and gas industry across western Siberia.
History
UTair's former logo
In February 1967, the Aeroflot Tyumen Directorate was set up to meet the transport requirements of the fast-growing oil and gas industry undergoing development in western Siberia.[5] In the wake of the break-up of the Aeroflot organization, Tyumenaviatrans Aviation (TAT) was formed in 1991 to replace the Aeroflot Tyumen Directorate.[6] TAT adopted the name of UTair in 2002.[6]
The airline is owned by Khanty Mansiysk District administration (23%), Surgut City administration (19%), Russian shareholders and companies (33%), the Russian Federation (2%), and private foreign investors (20%).
In October 2010, Utair announced plans to replace its Tupolev Tu-134 fleet with the Sukhoi Superjet 100.[7] In December, UTair officially placed an order for 24 of the jets to enter service in 2013.[8] Also in 2010, the airline named a Tu-154 aircraft after Boris Evdokimovich Sherbina, a Tyumenfigure.[9]
In November 2014, Utair faced financial difficulties and was unable to make a bond payment.[10] In April 2015, Utair announced a fleet reduction of over 50 aircraft due to financial difficulty.[11] It also cancelled its order for 24 Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft.[12] A few weeks later, its regional airline subsidiary UTair Express ceased operations.[13]
In December 2015, it was announced that Utair sold its leisure subsidiary Azur Air to Turkish tourism company Anex Tourism Group, which had bought UTair-Ukraine a few weeks earlier.[14] On 31 October 2017, Utair announced its rebranding and changing its name from "UTair Aviation" to "Utair".[15]
On 8 April 2022 the US Department of Commerce restricted flights on aircraft manufactured in the US for Aeroflot, Aviastar, Azur Air, Belavia, Rossiya and Utair.[16] On 16 June the US broadened its restrictions on the six airlines after violations of the sanctions regime were detected. The effect of the restrictions is to ground the US-manufactured part of its fleet.[16]
A Utair Boeing 737-400 wearing the airline's latest liveryUtair is one of the world's last operators of the Boeing 767-200ER (pictured in former livery).
Current fleet
Except the ATR 72-500, Utair has an all-Boeing fleet. As of September 2024[update], the Utair mainline fleet consists of the following aircraft (excluding helicopters and subsidiaries' aircraft):[22]
On 2 July 2008, a Utair Mi-8 helicopter crashed in Yamal region, killing 9 and injuring 7 on board.[30]
On 16 January 2010, a Utair Boeing 737-500, registration VQ-BAC, overrun the runway on landing at Vnukovo International Airport and was substantially damaged when the nosewheel collapsed.[31]
On 20 December 2011, a Utair Mil Mi-26T helicopter crashed in an oilfield in Western Siberia; one person was killed. Utair grounded all its Mil Mi-26T helicopters following this incident.[32]
On 2 April 2012, UTair Flight 120, an ATR 72-200, registration VP-BYZ, crashed approximately 1.4 nautical miles (2.6 km; 1.6 mi) from Roshchino International Airport serving Tyumen, Western Siberia, on a flight to Surgut International Airport. The aircraft was carrying 39 passengers and 4 crew. To date, 10 survivors with serious injuries and burns have been confirmed.[33]
On 4 July 2012, a helicopter operated by Utair for an oil and gas company crashed in a remote area about 4 kilometers from the runway of Lensk Airport near Lensk. The wreckage was found several hours later and three bodies were recovered, with the fourth person presumed killed. The cause was not immediately known, but Utair grounded all aircraft at Lensk Airport pending an investigation into the quality of fuel supply at the airport.[34]
On 4 August 2018, an MI-8 helicopter belonging to Utair crashed about 180 km from the town of Igarka, in Krasnoyarsk Territory, killing all 18 on board.[35]
On 1 September 2018, Utair Flight 579, a Boeing 737-800, registration VQ-BJI, on a flight from Vnukovo with 164 passengers and 6 crew, overran the runway and caught fire while landing in Sochi, injuring 18 people.[36]
On 9 February 2020, Utair Flight 595, a Boeing 737-500 on a domestic flight from Vnukovo International Airport (Moscow), crash-landed at Usinsk Airport, Russia, following a landing gear collapse.[37] All 100 passengers and crew survived the accident.[38]
On 14 June 2024, Utair Flight 9706, an Antonov AN-26, crash-landed during approach at Utrenny Airport in foggy weather. Of the 41 people on board, 3 were injured.
References
^ abcdFederal State Unitary Enterprise "State Air Traffic Management Corporation", Airline Reference, Vol. 1, Russian Federation, 20 February 2007, p. 500
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