Aerokuzbass

Aerokuzbass (Russian: Аэрокузбасс), also known as Aerokuzneck (Аэрокузнецк), is a Russian airline based in Novokuznetsk, in the Kemerovo Oblast of Siberia. The company is notable for combining airline operations with the management of Novokuznetsk-Spichenkovo Airport, its home base. Its origins trace back to the Soviet-era Novokuznetsk Civil Aviation Enterprise, founded on 17 August 1952, which was part of the Aeroflot system. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Novokuznetsk division was transferred to the municipal government of Novokuznetsk and became the independent airline Aerokuzbass. The airline's core activities include seasonal charter flights, emergency medical flights, and territorial surveillance over southern Kemerovo Oblast. In 2007, Aerokuzbass carried 0.9 thousand passengers on flights operated by its Mil Mi-8 helicopter fleet. The company has historically operated a mix of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, including Tupolev Tu-154 jets, Antonov An-24 and An-26 turboprops, and Mil Mi-2 and Mi-8 helicopters. Its aircraft have also been leased out to operators in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. Aerokuzbass has faced financial difficulties, including a bankruptcy ruling in 1998 by the Kemerovo Oblast Supreme Court, after which a new company was established in 1999 incorporating the airport complex and the aircraft fleet. In 2001, the company was reorganized from an open joint-stock company (S.p.a.) to a limited liability company (S.r.l.). It maintains commercial agreements with several Russian and international airlines, including S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines, Alrosa Mirny Air Enterprise, and Iran Air Tours. The airline's website is hosted at aerokuzbass.narod.ru.

The history of Aerokuzbass begins with the establishment of the Novokuznetsk Civil Aviation Enterprise on 17 August 1952, formed by merging several aircraft and helicopter units in the Novokuznetsk region. The fleet was initially designated as the South-Western Siberian Civil Air Fleet. The first airport was Abagur, and the first director was pilot Mikhail Muravyov. Early aircraft included Polikarpov Po-2 biplanes, and in January 1953 the airline received its first Antonov An-2. From 1954 to 1967, the Novokuznetsk State Air Enterprise operated Yakovlev Yak-12 and Antonov An-2 aircraft, as well as Kamov Ka-15, Mil Mi-1, and Mil Mi-4 helicopters. In March 1954, the 184th Civil Aviation Division was founded from all air enterprises in the Novokuznetsk region. On 18 January 1955, Aleksandr Sofronov became director. By the end of 1956, the South-Western Siberian airline had 172 employees. In 1957, scheduled flights to Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, and Tomsk were established. During the 1960s, the airline participated in transporting people to new oil and gas fields in Tyumen and Tomsk Oblasts. In April 1964, the 184th Division moved to Bunghur airport facilities. From 11 June 1965 to 9 October 1967, Mikhail Mamaev was director, followed by Ryzhakov Nicolai from October 1967 to 16 December 1971. In the 1970s, Antonov An-2 aircraft of the Novokuznetsk Air Enterprise operated in Kemerovo Oblast, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. The new Novokuznetsk-Spichenkovo Airport officially opened in 1968. The new hub began operating with newer Soviet aircraft such as Antonov An-24, Ilyushin Il-14, Ilyushin Il-18, and Mil Mi-2, Mi-4, Mi-8 helicopters, thanks to a new concrete runway that allowed 200 passengers per hour and 24-hour operations, with full maintenance infrastructure. New scheduled routes to Moscow, Khabarovsk, and Sochi-Adler were opened with Ilyushin Il-18 aircraft. From 1971 to 20 September 1981, Meleti Terezglo was director. From 21 September 1981 to 26 February 1998, Boris Kalintsev led the company. In 1985, the airport's second runway, 2,680 meters long, was inaugurated, allowing the first Tupolev Tu-154 to land at Novokuznetsk. In 1986, a new terminal opened, expanded with aircraft maintenance facilities and airline services. In 1990, the first scheduled Novokuznetsk–Moscow-Domodedovo flight was operated with a Tupolev Tu-154 of Aerokuzbass. In 1993, the fleet included 3 Tupolev Tu-154M and 6 Tupolev Tu-154B-2, 6 Antonov An-24, 5 Antonov An-26, 10 Mil Mi-8 helicopters, and 10 Mil Mi-2 helicopters. Until 1998, the airline operated domestic and international flights. On 26 February 1998, the Kemerovo Oblast Supreme Court, following a bankruptcy ruling, appointed Viktor Belozerov as emergency director. On 25 August 1999, a new airline, Aerokuzbass, was established, incorporating the Novokuznetsk airport complex plus the aircraft and helicopter fleet. On 12 November 2001, Aerokuzbass S.p.a. became Aerokuzbass S.r.l., which also manages Novokuznetsk Airport. The fleet in the 2000s included 2 Tupolev Tu-154M (RA-85747, RA-85749) and 4 Mil Mi-8T helicopters (RA-22725, RA-24430, RA-24530, RA-24684). Aircraft were leased out to Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. The historical fleet until 2004 also included Antonov An-24RV, Antonov An-26, Tupolev Tu-154B-1 (RA-85289, RA-85626), Tupolev Tu-154B-2 (RA-85351), and Mil Mi-2 helicopters. The airline has commercial agreements with Alrosa Mirny Air Enterprise, Atlant-Soyuz, Iran Air Tours, Jamal Airlines, Kavminvodyavia, S7 Airlines, Ural Airlines, Vladivostok Avia, and Zapolyarye Aviakompanija.

• Novokuznetsk Civil Aviation Enterprise founded.

• Received first Antonov An-2 aircraft.

• 184th Civil Aviation Division founded.

• Aleksandr Sofronov became director.

• Scheduled flights to Novosibirsk, Kemerovo, and Tomsk established.

• Novokuznetsk-Spichenkovo Airport officially opened.

• Second runway (2,680 m) inaugurated; first Tupolev Tu-154 landed.

• New terminal opened with expanded maintenance facilities.

• First scheduled Novokuznetsk–Moscow-Domodedovo flight with Tu-154.

• Bankruptcy ruling; Viktor Belozerov appointed emergency director.

• New airline Aerokuzbass established, incorporating airport and fleet.

• Aerokuzbass S.p.a. became Aerokuzbass S.r.l.

Regional Siberian airline and airport operator serving Kemerovo Oblast with niche aviation services.

• Scheduled regional flights

  Domestic and international scheduled services until 1998.

• Seasonal charter flights

  Important charter activity, including seasonal routes.

• Emergency medical flights

  Air ambulance services for the region.

• Territorial surveillance flights

  Patrol and surveillance over southern Kemerovo Oblast.

• Airport management

  Operation of Novokuznetsk-Spichenkovo Airport.

1. 1Aerokuzbass - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2Aerokuzbass - Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org