SIMFEROPOL, June 10, 23:57 /ITAR-TASS/. Russia’s first low-cost air carrier Dobrolyot launched its regular flights from Moscow to Simferopol on Tuesday. The company wants to become profitable by the end of 2015.
“Today, it is too early to speak about profitability. But we hope to start making profit as we increase the number of aircraft and flight hours,” Andrei Kalmykov, director of the Dobrolyot low coster, told Itar-Tass.
At present, the air company has two aircraft at its disposal - one Boeing -737-800 and one Sukhoi-Superjet-100. Dobrolyot plans to purchase eight new planes every year. The air company will operate only Boeings meant for 189 passengers. Such planes do not have a business class.
“We are going to buy six more planes this year. We are going to return the Sukhoi. We needed it to gain an Air Operator Certificate and meet requirements by the number of aircraft. In future, we are going to buy brand new aircraft straight from plants,” Kalmykov went on to say. The first several tickets on each Moscow-Simferopol flight are available at 999 roubles. But a standard ticket price will be 3,499 roubles (about a 100$) in one direction. Passengers will be able to order additional services for extra pay (additional luggage, meals onboard and an assigned seat in the salon.
Dobrolyot’s first flight was welcomed with a water show at Simferopol airport. Two fire engines poured water on it shortly after landing. The passengers said they had been treated with champagne during the flight.