Avianova (Russia)

Avianova, LLC (Russian: ООО «Авианова») was a low cost airline based in Moscow, Russia. From its hub at Sheremetyevo International Airport, the carrier served a number of destinations within Russia, as well as an international destination within Ukraine.

This article is about a defunct Russian low cost airline. For other uses, see Avianova.

Avianova
Авианова
IATA ICAO Callsign
AO NET[1] NOVA
Founded2009
Commenced operations27 August 2009 (2009-08-27)
Ceased operations10 October 2011 (2011-10-10)
Operating basesSheremetyevo International Airport
Secondary hubsKrasnodar
Fleet size6
Destinations22
Parent companyAlfa Group (51%)
HeadquartersMoscow, Russia
Key peopleAndrew Pyne (CEO)
Vladimir Gorbunov (General Director)
Websitewww.avianova.com

History
An Avianova Airbus A320-200 at Pulkovo Airport. (2011)

The company was first registered in 2006.[2] It received Russian regulatory approval in August 2009; operations began on 27 August that year.[2] In the beginning, the company advertised their base fares for RUB 250 (less than US$10) excluding taxes and fees.[3] Andrew Pyne, CEO,[4] voiced the strategy of the new company as "flying those Russians who haven't even seen the inside of an airplane in the past twenty years".[5]

As of October 2011, Alfa Group controlled 51% of the stake, while US investment company Indigo Partners held the balance.[6]

Avianova carried 1.3 million passengers in 2010,[2] with an occupation of over 80%. By seat numbers flown it had become the second largest carrier at Sheremetyevo airport with 25% of total capacity, operating out of Terminal B. On monthly traffic statistics it ranked as fourth largest domestic carrier in Russia. It opened a second base at Krasnodar in May 2011, with operations to Sochi, Surgut, and St Petersburg, as well as Moscow. By June 2011, it had carried over 2 million passengers since launch at an average seat factor of nearly 80%.

Shareholder coup and bankruptcy

On the morning of 24 June 2011, representatives of the majority shareholder entered the airline's offices and removed the foreign management and some Russian managers and appointed a new leadership,[7] in a move that CEO Andrew Pyne described as an "illegal coup".[8] The airline's new management in turn accused the previous management of "managerial incompetence, flouting Russian law and inflicting severe financial damage on the company" and appointed Konstantin Teterin, former general manager of Red Wings Airlines, as deputy director general.[8] However, Indigo did not recognize this designation, as it stated the move had "no legal basis".[7] The Russian General Director of the Company, Vladimir Gorbunov, himself appointed by Pyne in the Spring of 2008, stated that ″from the very beginning of his co-operation with Avianova, Andrew Pyne demonstrated his unwillingness to work in compliance with Russian laws and emphasised his intention to work solely in accordance with his own rules.″[9]

The continued shareholder impasse over management changes and over funding for the company led to Avianova stopping ticket sales on 3 October as a prelude to stopping operations on 10 October 2011 (2011-10-10).[2][6][10]

Destinations

Even though the airline operated from Vnukovo Airport in its beginnings, it moved its hub to Sheremetyevo Airport's Terminal 1 on 28 March 2010.[11]

Avianova served the following destinations before ceasing operations, as of April 2011:[12]

Terminated Before Ceasing Operations
  • Russia – Kazan (suspended), Moscow-Vnukovo

Fleet

Avianova operated 6 Airbus A320 aircraft. In accordance with the growing low-cost aviation market in Russia Avianova stated a long term view to operate up to 50 aircraft in five years, but this never happened. All Avianova aircraft were registered in the Republic of Ireland.

As of September 2011, the Avianova fleet consisted of the following aircraft with an average age of 10.5 years:[14]

Type In Fleet Passengers
Airbus A320-200 6 170

References
  1. according to FlightStats Archived 21 April 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  2. Thomas, ALex (11 October 2011). "Russia's Avianova officially ceases operations". London: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. 
  3. Dagayeva, Anastasia; Milov, Grigory (8 July 2011). "51% of Discount Airline Avianova Up for Sale". The Moscow Times. Archived from the original on 10 August 2011. 
  4. Avianova prokatila passazhirov (in Russian), gazeta.ru, 4 December 2009.
  5. Russian: Задача «Авиановы» – «заставить летать тех россиян, которые уже 20 лет самолет в глаза не видели» - Avianova prokatila passazhirov (in Russian), gazeta.ru, 4 December 2009.
  6. Hofmann, Kurt (4 October 2011). "Troubled Avianova stops online ticket sales". Air Transport World.(subscription required)
  7. Reals, Kerry (28 June 2011). "Coup attempts to overthrow Avianova management". London: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 17 February 2015. 
  8. http://www.sptimes.ru/index.php?action_id=2&story_id=34320
  9. Reals, Kerry (14 July 2011). "Avianova sacks CEO and accuses him of 'misleading public'". London: Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013.
  10. Kaminski-Morrow, David (3 October 2011). "Avianova collapse is 'tragedy' for Russian economy: chief". Flightglobal. Archived from the original on 4 July 2013.
  11. "Other News - 01/27/2010". Air Transport World. 28 January 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2011. Avianova, which launched low-fare service from Moscow Vnukovo last August, will transfer its operation to Sheremetyevo's Terminal 1 on 28 March.(subscription required)
  12. "Avianova bookable flights". Archived from the original on 20 March 2012. Retrieved 29 October 2018.
  13. ""Авианова" выходит на рынок Западной Сибири". AVIA.RU. 3 July 2010.
  14. Avianova fleet list at planespotters.net
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