Atlant-Soyuz Airlines
A Russian airline providing passenger and cargo services.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Moscow Airlines was the final operating brand of Atlant-Soyuz Airlines, a Russian carrier based in Moscow and centered on Vnukovo International Airport. The airline was founded as OJSC Atlant-Soyuz Airlines and began operations in June 1993, initially combining passenger and cargo services with a fleet that relied largely on Soviet-built aircraft. Its network connected Moscow with domestic Russian destinations and selected cities in the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Europe. The company developed as a mixed passenger-and-cargo operator. Its early fleet included Soviet-designed aircraft, including Tupolev and Ilyushin types, while the airline began introducing Boeing equipment in 2006. By 2007, the business had 726 employees and an ownership structure consisting of private investors and the City of Moscow. Private investors held 75% of the company and the city held the remaining 25%. That municipal connection was reflected in the airline's Moscow-centered identity and its use of Vnukovo as its principal base. In 2007, Atlant-Soyuz and the United States cargo carrier Evergreen International Airlines considered creating a joint venture. The proposed partnership did not materialize, and the airline continued operating independently. The company nevertheless retained a significant cargo capability for much of its history, including Ilyushin Il-76 freighters, alongside scheduled and charter passenger activity. A major change came on 17 September 2010, when Atlant-Soyuz was rebranded as Moscow Airlines. The rebranding was accompanied by a strategic shift away from dedicated cargo flying: the Il-76 aircraft were removed from the fleet, ending the airline's dedicated cargo operations. By December 2010, the scheduled passenger network included Moscow, Gelendzhik, and Sochi in Russia; Ganja and Nakhchivan in Azerbaijan; Brno in the Czech Republic; Dushanbe in Tajikistan; and Bukhara, Fergana, Samarkand, and Tashkent in Uzbekistan. In November 2010, Moscow Airlines operated eight Boeing 737 aircraft for scheduled passenger flights, with an average fleet age of approximately 12.8 years. Older Tupolev and Ilyushin aircraft were also owned and were mainly associated with charter operations. The transition to a predominantly Boeing 737 passenger fleet represented a clearer separation between the airline's scheduled passenger business and its former Soviet-era cargo fleet. The Moscow Airlines brand had only a short public operating life. On 17 January 2011, the airline discontinued all flight activity and entered liquidation. It therefore remains a historical airline brand rather than an active carrier. Its significance lies in the transition from a mixed Soviet-aircraft passenger-and-cargo operator under Atlant-Soyuz to a Moscow-branded, predominantly Boeing-based scheduled passenger airline before its final cessation.
History
Atlant-Soyuz Airlines was established in 1993 and began flying in June of that year. Operating from Moscow, it built its business around passenger and cargo transportation using aircraft of Soviet manufacture. Vnukovo International Airport served as the airline's principal base, supporting a network that combined Russian domestic flying with international services to nearby European, Caucasian, and Central Asian markets. The carrier's original operating model was broader than that of a purely scheduled passenger airline. It transported passengers on regular services and also operated cargo flights, including operations involving Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft. Tupolev and other Ilyushin aircraft remained part of the company's wider fleet and were later associated mainly with charter activity. This mixed fleet reflected the airline's post-Soviet origins and its continued use of aircraft types developed in the Soviet aviation industry. The company began introducing Boeing aircraft in 2006, marking a gradual modernization of its passenger operation. By 2007, Atlant-Soyuz had 726 employees and was owned by a combination of private investors and the City of Moscow. Private investors controlled 75%, while the city held 25%. The municipal stake and Moscow base gave the airline a distinctive local identity, although the proposed expansion of its cargo business through a joint venture with Evergreen International Airlines did not proceed. On 17 September 2010, the carrier was rebranded Moscow Airlines. The new name emphasized the airline's geographic identity and passenger-facing Moscow association. At the same time, all Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft were removed from the fleet, bringing dedicated cargo flying to an end. The remaining business was primarily a passenger carrier, supplemented by charter operations involving older aircraft. The December 2010 scheduled network illustrates the airline's final regional footprint. In Russia, it served Moscow, Gelendzhik, and Sochi. Internationally, it served Ganja and Nakhchivan in Azerbaijan, Brno in the Czech Republic, Dushanbe in Tajikistan, and Bukhara, Fergana, Samarkand, and Tashkent in Uzbekistan. This network linked Moscow with resort destinations, neighboring states, and Central Asian cities rather than forming a broad intercontinental system. As of November 2010, the scheduled passenger fleet consisted of eight Boeing 737 aircraft with an average age of about 12.8 years. The airline also owned several older Tupolev and Ilyushin aircraft, primarily used on charter routes. The fleet profile showed a division between a more standardized Boeing passenger operation and legacy Soviet aircraft retained for other flying. The Moscow Airlines identity proved short-lived. On 17 January 2011, the airline discontinued all flight activities and entered liquidation. It consequently became a defunct Russian airline, and the Moscow Airlines name is best understood as the final brand used by Atlant-Soyuz Airlines rather than as a continuing independent carrier.
- 2011
Flight operations end
[1]Moscow Airlines discontinued all flight activity on 17 January and entered liquidation.
- 2010
Rebrand to Moscow Airlines
[1]On 17 September, Atlant-Soyuz Airlines adopted the Moscow Airlines name and ended dedicated Il-76 cargo operations.
- 2010
Final scheduled network and fleet profile
[1]By December, the airline served destinations in Russia, Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan; in November it operated eight Boeing 737 aircraft for scheduled passenger services.
- 2007
Ownership and staffing documented
[1]Private investors owned 75% of the airline and the City of Moscow owned 25%; the company had 726 employees.
- 2007
Proposed Evergreen cargo joint venture does not proceed
[1]Atlant-Soyuz and Evergreen International Airlines considered a joint venture, but the proposal was not completed.
- 2006
First Boeing aircraft enters the fleet
[1]The airline added its first Boeing aircraft, beginning a shift away from an exclusively Soviet-built fleet.
- 1993
Atlant-Soyuz Airlines is founded and begins operations
[1]OJSC Atlant-Soyuz Airlines was founded and commenced passenger and cargo operations in June 1993.
Products and positioning
A Moscow-centered full-service airline focused on domestic and regional international passenger connectivity, with a historical cargo operation that was discontinued during the 2010 rebrand.
Passenger air transport · 1993
Scheduled passenger services
The airline's principal final-period offering was scheduled passenger transportation from its Moscow base at Vnukovo International Airport. Routes connected Moscow with domestic destinations such as Gelendzhik and Sochi and with cities in Azerbaijan, the Czech Republic, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. By late 2010, these services were operated primarily with Boeing 737 aircraft.
Air cargo · 1993
Cargo services
Cargo transportation was an important part of Atlant-Soyuz's original business and included the operation of Ilyushin Il-76 freighters. The dedicated cargo activity ended during the September 2010 transition to the Moscow Airlines brand, when the Il-76 aircraft were removed from the fleet.
Charter air transport
Charter flights
Alongside scheduled passenger operations, the airline retained older Tupolev and Ilyushin aircraft that were used mainly on charter routes. Charter flying remained a secondary activity in the final fleet description, separate from the Boeing 737-based scheduled passenger operation.
Brand decisions
2010
Shift from mixed passenger-cargo operations to a passenger-focused Moscow brandStrategyBackground
Atlant-Soyuz Airlines had historically operated both passenger and cargo services, including Il-76 freighters, but adopted the Moscow Airlines identity in September 2010.
Action taken
The company removed all Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft, ended dedicated cargo flights, and presented the business under the Moscow Airlines name.
Aftermath
The rebranded airline operated a scheduled passenger network with eight Boeing 737 aircraft in November 2010, but ceased all flying and entered liquidation in January 2011.
2007
Proposed partnership with Evergreen International AirlinesM&ABackground
The airline explored a joint venture with the United States cargo carrier Evergreen International Airlines.
Action taken
The proposed joint venture was discussed but never materialized.
Aftermath
Atlant-Soyuz continued operating without the proposed Evergreen partnership.
Recent events
- 2011
Moscow Airlines ceases flying and enters liquidation[1]
Bankruptcy
Moscow Airlines stopped all flight activity on 17 January 2011 and the company went into liquidation.
- 2010
Atlant-Soyuz Airlines rebrands as Moscow Airlines[1]
Other
On 17 September 2010, Atlant-Soyuz Airlines adopted the Moscow Airlines name. The change coincided with the removal of its Ilyushin Il-76 freighters and the end of dedicated cargo flying.
- 2010
Moscow Airlines reports an eight-aircraft Boeing 737 scheduled fleet[1]
Product generation
In November 2010, the airline's scheduled passenger operation was based on eight Boeing 737 aircraft, while older Tupolev and Ilyushin aircraft were mainly used for charter work.
Sources1 sources
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